God of love,
During this season of Advent, as we wait with anticipation for the coming light of the Christ-child, your Love made flesh in the world, we remember that you are a living God, creating with us anew each and every day. For many of us, this is a season of rededicating ourselves to you.
As we watch and wait expectantly for the radical re-ordering of the world we read about in Scripture, we know that we must play a part in co-creating with you.
God of love, we dedicate our hearts and hands to you.
As we watch and wait expectantly for an end to this global pandemic, we pray for South Korea, where more than 7,000 new COVID-19 transmissions are happening daily. We pray for the many countries that are reporting their highest COVID-19 numbers in months, and for all those who cannot get medical care due to overcrowded hospitals. Remind us that we play a part in co-creating with you, and guide us toward doing our part to slow the virus’s spread.
We watch and wait expectantly with hope as testing suggests that the Pfizer vaccine, when given as two initial shots plus a later booster, will protect against the new Omicron variant. We lift prayers of gratitude for the developers of these vaccines and the researchers who track efficacy.
God of love, we dedicate our hearts and hands to you.
As we watch and wait expectantly for a renewing of creation, we see the devastation of the climate crisis. We offer prayers for South Sudan, where “Biblical flooding” has displaced hundreds of thousands of residents; and for Indonesia after heavy rains destroyed a large portion of Mount Semeru’s volume, causing its volcanic eruption. Lead us to join together in doing all we can to allow your earth to heal.
God of love, we dedicate our hearts and hands to you.
As we watch and wait expectantly for the coming life, we mourn the losses of important people in our own lives, as well as in the world. We lift our prayers for General Bipin Rawat, who was leading changes to India’s military, his wife, and other senior military officers, after the helicopter crash that caused their deaths. Help us continue the good works of those we have recently lost.
God of love, we dedicate our hearts and hands to you.
As we watch and wait expectantly for justice to roll down like waters, we celebrate with Chile as same-sex marriage has been legalized and love wins. Help us to become ever more loving, inclusive, and just.
God of love, we dedicate our hearts and hands to you.
As we watch and wait expectantly for more peace in our world, we pray for Germany as Olaf Scholz is sworn in as chancellor, after Angela Merkel’s historic 16 years as leader; and for government leaders all over the globe, that they would be more influenced by the needs of your people, rather than by the need for power. Help us to remember that Jesus came to call truth to power and to love and care for the most marginalized people; and lead us to do the same.
God of love, we dedicate our hearts and hands to you.
Amen.
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