Call to Prayer: Sunday 29th November 2020 1st Sunday in Advent
Prayer @ 7pm

We come now to a significant place in the long journey that we have made over these past months and the place we have come to is where the season of Advent begins. The season speaks of Hope and, though it begins with a recognition that we still face the darkness, brings with it the promise of light. The 1st Sunday in Advent will, in years past, have echoed to the singing of ancient and inspiring words:

O come, O come, Immanuel / and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here / until the Son of God appear.

The words express the longing of the people of God to know the coming of God amongst them. In anticipation of this promise being fulfilled, the people of God sing out:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you O Israel.

In our hearts, the promise still resonates and so we await the coming of God. Indeed, we may say that the season of Advent is a season of waiting and anticipation and one that yields the promise of God: ‘From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.’ (Isaiah 64: 4) We wait and we pray:

God of the Advent promise,
We come on our journey to the place where the promise is renewed. Even in the darkness,
We look for the light of your presence to be revealed.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God of the Advent promise,
We come on our journey to the place where hope is renewed. Even in the midst of all that we have faced in times past,
We trust in the hope that does not disappoint.
Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

God of the Advent promise,
We come on our journey to the place where we must wait for a time.
Even though we have waited in times past,
We gladly do so again trusting that our waiting shall yield the coming of God. Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God of the Advent promise,
We come on our journey to the place of anticipation. Even though we do not yet see,
We anticipate the good gift that you will offer.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God of the Advent promise,
We come on our journey to the place where we resolve to journey on. . Even though we have travelled through hard times,
We go forward, trusting in the promise: Immanuel, shall come to us. Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.