So I'm trying something new this year. Each Sunday at 7pm during this Advent season, I'll be sharing a little liturgy for advent: a few prayers, poems, and readings live on my Instagram page (@thesarahrock), as well as sharing everything here on this trusty, 'ol blog. I'll also post a link here to a weekly Spotify playlist themed because you know I love a seasonal playlist..
Here's this week's playlist:
And here's the liturgy for tonight... read it at home with your family, or tune in to my instagram at 7 to read with me!
December Rainbow
(by me)
In the cold of winter all seems dim
as the light fades early
before the dinner bell rings
Yet in this waning light a spark of hope ignites
followed soon by peace, joy and love
kindled in the cozy calm of these silent nights
Like an infant nursing at his mother’s breast
in the last light of the December dusk
or the solitary flicker of the season’s first candle
wavering in a drafty chapel
Hope seems tiny, fragile, too frail for the advancing cold
But then, one bright ray emerges
pushing through the dark chill of an overcast morn.
Suddenly light bursts forth through winter rain.
Though the storm still churns overhead
brilliance rises with the sun below.
And I catch my breath.
In awe of the colors dawning before me.
Aglow again with the magnificent promise of Hope.
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Creator God,
Gather with us on this holy night
As we come together in unconventional spaces
To begin the Advent season,
a time of anticipation and waiting
at the end of a year that has already stretched our patience to its brink
Reveal to us tonight the hope represented by this candle
The promise of heaven born to a dying earth.
The healing hope of Jesus
Light of the world.
Psalm 130: 5-8
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
Luke 1:39-56
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[a] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Reading:
"Waiting for God" by Henri Nouwen
Closing Prayer:
God of Hope
Renew us in this season of waiting
As we lift our eyes in expectation,
Our hearts in adoration,
Or perhaps our hands in frustration
Reveal to us this week the promise of new life
Born in a tiny baby
Carried by a teenage mother
Who chose community in her season of waiting
And believed the voice of the angel
Saying do not fear
Like Mary, we will wait without worry
Choosing to hope in the promise of abundant life
not by way of Empire, or consumerism
but through the counter-cultural Kingdom of Jesus Christ
Emmanuel
God with us.
