Monday, November 26, 2012


A PRAYER FOR THIRD ADVENT(OT)

Zephaniah 3:14-20(MSG)

16-17 Jerusalem will be told:
    “Don’t be afraid.
Dear Zion,
    don’t despair.
Your God is present among you,
    a strong Warrior there to save you.
Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love
    and delight you with his songs.
18-20 “The accumulated sorrows of your exile
    will dissipate.
I, your God, will get rid of them for you.
    You’ve carried those burdens long enough.
At the same time, I’ll get rid of all those
    who’ve made your life miserable.
I’ll heal the maimed;
    I’ll bring home the homeless.
In the very countries where they were hated
    they will be venerated.
On Judgment Day
    I’ll bring you back home—a great family gathering!
You’ll be famous and honored
    all over the world.
You’ll see it with your own eyes—
    all those painful partings turned into reunions!”
        God’s Promise.


We are lost
and cannot find our way home

We have wandered from the joys of marriage
and the richness of family life
We have torn through broken relationships and shattered relationships
We have hurt and been hurt by selfish desires and need for control
We have been scared to show forgiveness and too proud to accept it

Bring us home, Dear God
to the richness and joy that the long and difficult work
that builds and sustains healthy relationships
and wholesome friendships
To learn anew to forgive and be forgiven

We are lost
and cannot find our way home

We are at sea in desires for security and wealth
We fear for our aging, our children, our savings, our health
We waste more than we need...abuse more than we use
We accumulate more than we share

Bring us home, Dear God
Teach us again the joy of giving
to those who need and they that hunger
To give of ourselves as well as our bounty
To sell all and follow you

We are lost
and cannot find our way home

We have taken the the road of warfare
falsely believing it leads to peace
We use drones and RPGs not prayers and petitions
to enforce our will and demand obedience
Nation building in our graven images

Bring us home, Dear God
Show us away the things that make for peace
Enable us to beat our swords into plowshares
and our spears into pruning hooks...
not take up sword against nation,
nor train for war anymore.

Bring us home, Dear God
Dwell among us again
Give us peace
Give us hope
Give us joy
Now and forevermore

Amen

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