This prayer was prepared for Advent worship and used in several churches throughout Advent when I was preaching. The Isaianic promise about the child who is born remains one of the most magnetic visions of a world redeemed from ruthless greed, re-educated from arrogant ifnorance to life giving wisdom, and pacified by conciliating love rather than brutal power. For a world like ours, Isaiah remains a resource of hope, and an affirmation of possibility that God is neither silent nor complacent over the brokenness and recalcitrance of human existence.
O come let us adore him
Mighty God, in Jesus your Son, through your Holy Spirit,
you have made yourself known to us as Father.
We praise you for the love that eternally flows
between Father, Son and Spirit;
your love has overflowed in creative purpose,
bringing into being all that exists.
O come let us adore him
Everlasting Father,
we thank you for the gift of our own lives,
for daily bread, clothing and a home.
You have called us to be your children,
and we praise you for your faithfulness,
and for the untiring mercy and goodness
that follows us all the days of our lives.
We look on our world,
its beauty and brokenness,
its wealth and impoverishment,
the light and the darkness,
and we pray that your kingdom may come
and your will be done on earth.
For every act of forgiveness,
every word of reconciliation,
every look of compassion,
every generous gift,
every attempt to heal,
every step taken towards peace and justice,
every tear turned to laughter,
we praise and adore you.
O come let us adore him
Wonderful counsellor,
teach us to keep in step with the Spirit;
to let ourselves be taught about the things of Jesus,
and to be open to the strength and power you give
that enables us to follow faithfully after him day by day by day.
Give us wisdom and courage
to live in a world with more questions than answers;
teach us the humility to listen,
patience to understand
and compassion to care,
before we blurt out our words,
so that when we speak of Jesus,
when you speak through us,
we do so as sinners saved by your grace,
as beggars telling others where to find bread,
as fellow travellers whose own footsteps are uncertain.
For the guidance and gift of the Wonderful counsellor
we praise and adore you.
O come let us adore him
Prince of Peace,
you came as light into the darkness of our world;
the light shines and the darkness has not overcome it.
By love you confronted hate,
by peace you disarm violence,
by service you undermine power,
by forgiveness you dissolve the toxins of enmity,
by resurrection power you give new life.
Teach us your followers to be people of peace;
create peace in our hearts,
pervade peace in our homes,
establish peace in your church,
pour peace into your world.
And by peace more than the absence of hostility,
but the presence of shalom, goodwill, health and justice,
room to grow and flourish in freedom.
In the coming of the Prince of Peace
these things are no longer a transient pipe dream,
but the beginning of the fulfilment of eternal promises
for which we praise and adore you
O come let us adore him
The photos are -
'Yellow', taken looking out beyond Johnshaven in June on the Montrose Road.
'Mirror', taken on the Fort William Road late November.
'Sheila' taken walking in Glen Dye in May 2012
'Horizons' taken at Loch Rannoch in June
Comments