Friday, Third Week of Advent
The Longest Night!
As the Dark Awaits the Dawn (ELW 261)
As the dark awaits the dawn, so we await your light. O Star of promise, scatter night, loving
bright, loving bright, till shades of fear are gone.
As the blue expectant hour before the silv’ring skies, we
long to see your day arise, whole and wise, whole and wise, O lucent Morning
Star.
As the moon reflects the sun until the night’s decrease, may
we your healing light release, living peace, living peace, unto your holy dawn.
Shine your future on this place, enlighten every guest, that
through us stream your holiness, bright and blest, bright and blest; come dawn,
O Sun of grace.
Reflection: In what
ways are you yearning for the bright light of love? What promises are you hoping/expecting to be
fulfilled? What about you needs to
become more “transparent” so that God’s holiness can stream through you to
others?
Each one of us benefits from the initiative God takes in illuminating our lives through Christ. That initiative offers comfort where nothing and nobody else can touch us. It is good, very good, to linger in that Light of grace for as long as we can.
And then --
New life begins to stir. It may begin when we notice that our sorrow is no longer the first thing that greets our morning prayer. It may show up in a soft giggle of Christmas glee. It may peek at us when we see a young child in the Christmas pageant. Gradually we begin to flow in a stream of God's promises -- comfort, peace, gentleness, healing --
and then --
We become beacons of light and love to others.
This is not something you need to "work" at doing. It is not another chore. This transformation, from one of the hurting people to one of the messengers of the light, occurs because God has promised that it will. All you need to do is accept that God can and will do this.
Shine your future on this place, enlighten every guest, that through us stream your holiness, bright and blest, bright and blest; come dawn, O Sun of grace.
We pray this. We sing this. It will happen!!!!!!!
Each one of us benefits from the initiative God takes in illuminating our lives through Christ. That initiative offers comfort where nothing and nobody else can touch us. It is good, very good, to linger in that Light of grace for as long as we can.
And then --
New life begins to stir. It may begin when we notice that our sorrow is no longer the first thing that greets our morning prayer. It may show up in a soft giggle of Christmas glee. It may peek at us when we see a young child in the Christmas pageant. Gradually we begin to flow in a stream of God's promises -- comfort, peace, gentleness, healing --
and then --
We become beacons of light and love to others.
This is not something you need to "work" at doing. It is not another chore. This transformation, from one of the hurting people to one of the messengers of the light, occurs because God has promised that it will. All you need to do is accept that God can and will do this.
Shine your future on this place, enlighten every guest, that through us stream your holiness, bright and blest, bright and blest; come dawn, O Sun of grace.
We pray this. We sing this. It will happen!!!!!!!
(Come to Christ the Redeemer for worship on Saturday Evening at 5 pm -- it will include prayers and litany for the Longest Night)
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