Approaching the end of Advent, we light the candle of love, and we pray for situations around the world which desperately need our love.
We send our love to the children who were shot at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A and for the 15 year old shooter who took her own life. We pray for her family to be wrapped in love even in the midst of questions and anger. We pray for the school to experience love in the midst of their heartbreak and fear. And we pray for the administrators to be able to navigate this tragedy with empathy and discernment.
We pray that justice will be done and that mercy will be extended to those involved in an alleged Venezuelan gang-related kidnapping in Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A leading to 19 arrests. We pray that even in the midst of this injustice, ethnic minorities will not suffer from undue racism and hatred as a result.
While Christians celebrate Christmas, we also remember our Jewish siblings who will soon be celebrating Hannukah. We especially lift up the attack on the Beth Tikvah Shul in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, that was caused by an incendiary device damaging their windows and front doors—the second time this year that their community has been the target of hate crimes.
During this family season, we pray for families which experience strain and tension, including the Royal British family which has uninvited Prince Andrew from their Christmas dinner due to him allegedly developing an unusual degree of trust with a Chinese spy who was banned from the United Kingdom.
We pray for charities which try to help the poor and disadvantaged and which are currently facing massive budgeting issues in Canada following a month long Canada Post strike that saw donations dwindle.
We pray that creation and our physical world may once again know peace despite a massive 7.3 magnitude earthquake in the South Pacific Island of Vanuatu and a powerful cyclone leaving hundreds (and possibly thousands) dead in the French territory of Mayotte off the coast of Southeast Africa this week.
Even in the midst of heartbreak we rejoice:
For the liberation of Syria.
For the pro-democracy demonstrations in South Korea.
For the Maori people of New Zealand who are protesting to protect their foundation Treaty Rights.
And for UNESCO’s 19th annual session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage that recently concluded in Paraguay and added 58 different forms of cultural traditions to its Intangible Cultural Heritage. These include: Aleppo Soap Making, the art of dry stone construction which builds with stone without binding materials (practiced in 14 countries across Europe), Pysanka the Ukrainian art of decorating Easter Eggs and much more.
In the midst of both joy and difficulty, we give thanks for the wonder of the Christ child, who comes among us this Christmas offering us hope, peace, joy, and love, and who reminds us that God–Emmanuel–always walks beside us.
Amen.
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