An Advent Lament of Tears and Joy

An Advent Lament of Tears and Joy

O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Deliver us from captivity. Be born in us today.

We mourn the enmity, violence, and fear that flood our world.

Have mercy Lord.

We name before you the victims of violence about whom we’ve heard today…

We remember this day that you are no stranger to strife.

You took upon yourself a life of enmity and danger.

You carried all conflict into the love of God.

May we live in you, with you, and for you.

Grant us courage to move toward conflict. Make us instruments of peace.

May the angels sing today, “Joy to the world.”

We mourn the devastation of homes and families in our world.

Have mercy Lord.

We name before you the homeless and refugees about whom we’ve heard today…

We remember this day that you are no stranger to homelessness.

You took upon yourself a life without a home, living as a refugee.

You carried all homelessness into the love of God.

May we live in you, with you, and for you.

Grant us compassion to welcome the homeless. Make us instruments of peace.

May the angels sing today, “Joy to the world.”

We mourn the prejudice, racism, and hatred that fill our world.

Have mercy Lord.

We name before you the victims of prejudice about whom we’ve heard today…

We remember this day that you are no stranger to prejudice.

You took upon yourself a life of rejection, living as an outcast, killed as a heretic.

You carried all prejudice into the love of God.

May we live in you, with you, and for you.

Grant us community with all who are despised. Make us instruments of peace.

May the angels sing today, “Joy to the world.”

We mourn the greed and inequity that divide our world.

Have mercy Lord.

We name before you those trapped in poverty about whom we’ve heard today…

We remember this day that you are no stranger to being poor.

You took upon yourself a life of poverty, living in utter dependency.

You carried all inequity into the love of God.

May we live in you, with you, and for you.

Grant us overflowing generosity. Make us instruments of peace.

May the angels sing today, “Joy to the world.”

May your joy come to our world.

By how we live and love, may the world see that the Lord has indeed come.

May we live today in joyous confidence for nothing can separate us from your love.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, whose love never ends. Amen.