Advent 3

"We pause again here today to light another candle. But, what good can this tiny little fragile flame do... against a world of darkness?

And yet, still we watch it quietly shining – 
not adding to the angst or the anger,
not condemning or condoning the voices of violence, the tools of terror, the weapons of war – but simply standing still... shining pure...
somehow, a simple sign of peace in troubled times.

As we light this flame, it is just one of many that will be lit today
In many different places, in very different cultures – 
but one journey, one story, one hope...

Like the stars scattered right across the sky – so too these little lights pierce the darkness, pointing the way to the One whose peace will know no end...
The One True Light, whose glow and grace we offer to the nations.

Like this flame in the darkness,
we keep this light burning,
we keep this hope living
we keep this song spreading
Glory to God in the Highest Heavens – and peace to all on earth.

Let's pray...

For all those places where conflict’s scars still mar the landscape
For all the once-busy streets now emptied out by force and fear
For all the heaps of ash and rubble where home and hope once stood
Lord, let Your peace pervade like morning mist, changing anger’s atmosphere

For all the families fleeing from terror, threat and treachery
For relationships ripped apart by invisible battle lines of strife
For all those who eyes still sting with the bitter tears of grief
Lord, let Your peace shoot up like a secret seed, surprising death with life

For all whose feet are asked to march to the rhythm of duty and sacrifice
For all whose hands are asked to carry the capacity to claim a life
For all whose eyes are asked to see the sights of such suffering and sadness 
Lord, let Your peace heal the hidden hurts in body, soul and mind

For all the minds where hatred’s noise still drowns and deafens
For all the memories bruised and battered by prejudice and pain
For all the dreams haunted by the ghosts of crisis past
Lord, let Your peace soothe the seeping wounds of searing hurt and shame

For the part we can all play in passing on and amplifying pain
For the ways we work to weaponize our words, worries and our ways
For the lines we draw, the names we call, the walls we build, the camps we form
Lord, let Your peace come, calm and cleanse us, till we glow with glimmers of grace

For You came preaching perfect peace, to people near and far
And You stooped down so low to reach us, from highest throne to manger bed
You saw us at our very worst, and chose to show us grace
So Lord, let Your peace so direct and define us till You are seen in us again   

In Jesus’ Name, Amen."