Fourth Sunday of Advent

As we begin the fourth Sunday of Advent, I want to share this prayer - sent to me by Pastor Mel (that is: Chaplain CPT Mary Ellison Baars, US ARMY), shared from the Young Clergy Women Project:

Let us pray...  Holy One,  The manger is still as we wait… The hustling and bustling of the holidays forgotten for a moment as we draw ourselves to your bedside, and with bated breath anticipate your in-breaking in our world.  There are so many places where we desperately need  your embodied hope your Advent Peace your Christmas Joy your deep and ever present love. Come to us Emmanuel,  Come to us as community, as those we draw in close to us on these cold winter evenings,  as family, as friends, as stars and sky,  Come to us yet again… Allow us to see the ways you give flesh to our deepest longings,  Provide for our unspoken needs,  Meet us in the darkness, in the stillness,  Hold our souls in your infant hand Breaking through in the form of a child, overcoming the stillness, the darkness, the bitter cold yet again.  May we know your advent peace, your Christmas joy, your deep and ever present love,  The manger is still as we wait… Amen With thanks to Jamie Lynn Haskins  Copyright © 2012 The Young Clergy Women Project, All rights reserved.