Advent 2, 2021
This week we celebrate Peace on our Advent journey to Bethlehem.
We will light the Candle of Peace and remember the coming of the one who has been called “The Prince of Peace”.
What a good time to share a wonderful prayer for peace, written by African American poet, Maya Angelou, and found in Celebrations, Rituals of Peace and Prayer, which is a collection of poetry, published by Random House in 2006. The volume contains 12 poems, five of which were previously published.
Prayer
Father, Mother God,
Thank you for your presence
during the hard and mean days.
For then we have you to lean upon.
Thank you for your presence
during the bright and sunny days,
for then we can share that which we have
with those who have less.
And thank you for your presence
during the Holy Days, for then we are able
to celebrate you and our families
and our friends.
For those who have no voice,
we ask you to speak.
For those who feel unworthy,
we ask you to pour your love out
in waterfalls of tenderness.
For those who live in pain,
we ask you to bathe them
in the river of your healing.
For those who are lonely, we ask
you to keep them company.
For those who are depressed,
we ask you to shower upon them
the light of hope.
Dear Creator, You, the borderless
sea of substance, we ask you to give all the
world that which we need most -- Peace.
-- Maya Angelou
As we walk through Advent this year, a year like most of us have never seen, may you find comfort in the words of Paul, as quoted in Philippians 4:6
“And the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Shalom
Pastor Beryl DLM