Here’s
a pastoral prayer for Advent from Paul G. Janssen.
Advent Prayer
(inspired by Luke
1:39-45, Amos 5:24, Isaiah 57:7)
Lord
our God,
you
have revealed yourself as One
who
wishes to bring about justice and true peace among people;
In
a world that looks away from injustice,
You
cast your eyes on the destitute, the poor, and the wronged;
You
have called us to follow you,
to
preach good news to the poor,
to
proclaim release for the captives
and
recovery of sight for the blind,
to
set at liberty those who are oppressed
and
to proclaim the time of your blessing.
Be
present with your church, Lord,
as
we respond to your call.
Open
our eyes to the downtrodden.
Fill
us with compassion for the plight of the alien,
the
refugee, and the immigrant.
Lead
us into ministries that help orphans and widows.
Give
us courage to block the paths of the ungodly
who
exploit the poor.
Set
us free from pious exercises
that
prevent us from the true worship you choose:
Sharing
bread with the hungry,
Sharing
homes with the homeless,
Sharing
clothes with the naked,
Sharing
hearts with our own kin.
So
may your justice roll down like waters,
your
righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Lead
our footsteps to stand with the poor,
that
we might stand with you.
Have
mercy, O God:
Scatter
the proud,
Put
down the mighty,
Lift
up the lowly,
Fill
up the hungry,
And
send the rich away empty-handed.
Our Father, etc. ...
~
Paul G. Janssen, and printed in Prayerful Preparation: Living God, Renew Us.
Published by the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and posted at http://wcrc.ch/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GC2017-PrayerfulPreparation-English.pdf.
