Walk With me on Our Journey: #AdventWords2018 #HashTagsWithMeaning - #Sign- Day 37 of Celtic Advent: 40 days of action and expectation!

Good Evening Dear Family of Love!

Happy Weekend Retreat time! I'm encouraging us all to take a mini-retreat! No ifs, ands, or buts about it! I know quite a few people who are coming down with colds and flu! This is a #Sign to all of us that we must practice self-care and get rest. Tonight let us dig deep into a time of decision making and decide what is important in the holiday scheme of things. So dear ones let us engage in our mindfulness work and be at prayer.

Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale.
Pause.

Peace be still
Peace be.
Peace.

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale.
Pause.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale.
Pause.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale.
Pause

Let us pause, ponder, and meditate upon these quotes on #Sign(s) and symbols.

"Symbols are powerful because they are the visible signs of invisible realities." ~ Saint Augustine

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

"All Christian language about the future is a set of signposts pointing into a mist." ~ N. T. Wright

"This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that He has spoken:Isaiah 38:7

"The degradation of the sense of symbol in modern society is one of its many signs of spiritual decay." ~ Thomas Merton

"This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:12

"When we are lost in the woods, the sight of a signpost is a great matter." ~ C. S. Lewis

"While doing centering prayer, the practice is to let go of any thought or perception. The priority is to be as silent as possible and when that is not possible to let the noise of the thoughts be the sacred symbol for a while, without analyzing them." ~ Thomas Keating

"You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs."
Exodus 4:17

"Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life." ~ Janine di Giovanni

This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him .John 2:11

"The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." ~ C. S. Lewis

"The soul ... may have many symbols with which it reaches toward God." ~ Anya Seton

"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know--

Acts 2:22

Join with the Earth and each other, to bring new life to the land, to restore the waters, to refresh the air, to renew the forests, to care for the plants, to protect the creatures, to celebrate the seas, to rejoice in the sunlight, to sing the song of the stars, to recall our destiny, to renew our spirits, to reinvigorate our bodies, to recreate the human community, to promote justice and peace, to love our children and love one another, to join together as many and diverse expressions of one loving mystery, for the healing of the Earth and the renewal of all life.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The Christian faith allows us to see further and deeper, to appreciate that nature is studded with signs, radiant with reminders, and emblazoned with symbols of God, our creator and redeemer." ~ Alister E. McGrath

this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." John 3:2

"God is not a symbol of goodness;
goodness is a symbol of God" ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

It is the God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:6-10

Let us embrace one another in agape (unconditional) love as we await the yearly celebration of Christ's birth and when we celebrate Jesus as God Incarnate, Man Divine.

Let us confess our need for God’s healing grace.

Silence

Compassionate God,

we confess our weaknesses and our need for your

strengthening touch.

We confess that some illnesses stem from our own fault,

while others are beyond our control.

We turn to you, source of life,

and ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ

for the gifts of true healing and life in you. Amen.

May the God of love visit us in our times of trial and weakness,

and raise us to newness of life, through Jesus Christ, in the

power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And so let us be at prayer and light our candles and sing the Great O Antiphons!

Our Great O Antiphon of the Day

O Oriens

The Dawn Breaking, the Light of the World

Latin:

O Oriens,

splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:

veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

English:

O Morning Star,

splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:

Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

The Song of Mary Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior, *

for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *

you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,

and holy is your name.

You have mercy on those who fear you *

from generation to generation.

You have shown strength with your arm *

and scattered the proud in their conceit,

Casting down the mighty from their thrones *

and lifting up the lowly.

You have filled the hungry with good things *

and sent the rich away empty.

You have come to the help of your servant Israel, *

for you have remembered your promise of mercy,

The promise made to our forebears, *

to Abraham and his children for ever.

O Oriens,

splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:

veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

English:

O Morning Star,

splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:

Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Oriens

Veni, Veni, Emmanuel

Come and save us, * O Lord God of hosts.

Come and save us, O Lord God of hosts.

Show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved:

O Lord God of hosts.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Come and save us, O Lord God of hosts.

V. Show us your mercy, O Lord:

R. And grant us your salvation.

Light of the World Phos hilaron

Light of the world, in grace and beauty,

Mirror of God’s eternal face,

Transparent flame of love’s free duty,

You bring salvation to our race.

Now, as we see the lights of evening,

We raise our voice in hymns of praise;

Worthy are you of endless blessing,

Sun of our night, lamp of our days.

Prayer Over The Advent Candle

O God, as light comes from this candle,

May the blessing of Jesus Christ come to us,

Warming our hearts and brightening our way.

May Christ our Savior

Bring life into the darkness of this world,

And to us, as we wait for his coming.

Amen.

(www.catholicnewsagency.com)

A Smudging Prayer

Creator, our Father in heaven, we come to you as your children. We confess that we are weak and broken images of you. We pray for the forgiveness and healing you give in Jesus Christ. May his Spirit clean our spirits, minds, hearts, and bodies. We pray that your Holy Spirit will help us to worship in spirit and truth. We pray in the name of Jesus, so that his Spirit will carry our prayers to you. Amen.

God and Creator of us all we pray and light our candles this night at a time where we are finding ourselves sorely divided one from another by a myriad of circumstances. We pray that we may start to learn from each other and place our egos and the need to be right at the door. We pray that we may use gentle speech and kind actions when we meet someone who differs from us. We pray that we may lovingly enfold them in our arms and extend to them radical hospitality and welcome. We pray that we may continually beat the weaponry of hate into ploughshares and turn the spears of division into pruning hooks and that we may grow into a peace-filled and loving world. We pray this night for all who are enduring any kind of pain that they may be comforted and that we may lovingly respond to their needs. We pray and ask this night for forgiveness of any action or word we have done or spoken this day and that we may turn away and repent of the wrongs we have done. We pray that we may spread God's light of love, peace, and learning to this world and that we may be beacons of hope, joy, love, and peace. We pray that we may follow Jesus and imitate him by being CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) and show the world that we are carried aloft by the Holy Spirit's Love Energy and that our Hearts and heart homes may be enlarged and that truly we may become one family of God and Love and brothers and sisters one to another. Amen.

God of love we make vigil and pray for all of our family members who are on the margins needing our love and care. We pray that we may all have empathy to be able to see outward appearances and see the face of God in each one of these precious souls whom you send in to our lives. We light candles for the least of these and remember them.

WE LIGHT OUR FIRST CANDLE AND PRAY FOR THE HOMELESS WHO FIND THEMSELVES OUT IN UNPROTECTED PLACES DURING COLD AND STORMY WEATHER. WE PRAY FOR ROUND THE CLOCK SHELTERS DURING TIMES OF COLD WEATHER AND THE WINTER MONTHS.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYERS FOR OUR HOMELESS FAMILY MEMBERS.
LET OUR CRIES FOR THEM COME UNTO YOU!

WE LIGHT OUR SECOND CANDLE AND PRAY FOR THE HUNGRY WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE AND MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT NUTRITION FOR HEALTHY BODIES, MINDS, AND SPIRITS. WE PRAY FOR THE FOOD BANKS AND DISTRIBUTION CENTERS THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO FEE THE HUNGRY AND THE FOOD INSECURE.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYERS FOR OUR HUNGRY. FAMILY MEMBERS.
LET OUR CRIES FOR THEM COME UNTO YOU.

WE LIGHT OUR THIRD CANDLE FOR THOSE WHO LACK WARM CLOTHING. WE PRAY FOR GENEROUS PEOPLE TO SHARE WHAT THEY HAVE WITH OTHERS AND ESPECIALLY DURING THE COLD AND DAMP WEATHER.

LORD HEAR THE PRAYERS FOR OUR ILL CLAD FAMILY MEMBERS.
LET OUR CRIES FOR THEM COME UNTO YOU.

WE LIGHT OUR FOURTH CANDLE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL THAT THEY MAY FIND ADEQUATE INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT TREATMENT. WE PRAY THAT THEY MAY HAVE SUPPORTIVE CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WILL NOT BE AFRAID TO ADVOCATE AND MINISTER TO THEIR NEEDS.

LORD HEAR THE PRAYERS OF THE MENTALLY ILL.
LET OUR CRIES FOR THEM COME COME UNTO YOU.

WE LIGHT OUR FIFTH CANDLE FOR ALL LGBTQIA PEOPLE WHO LONG TO HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND THE COURAGE TO LIVE AUTHENTICALLY OUTSIDE OF THE CLOSETS AND THAT THEY MAY LIVE WITH EQUAL PROTECTION WITHOUT FEAR.

LORD HEAR THE PRAYERS FOR ALL OF OUR LGBTQIA FAMILY MEMBERS.
LET OUR CRIES FOR THEM COME UNTO YOU .

WE LIGHT OUR SIXTH CANDLE FOR ALL RACES THAT ARE ON THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY AND ARE HATED JUST BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN AND ACCENT. HELP US TO BUILD BRIDGES AND LEARN FROM THEM.

LORD HEAR THE PRAYERS FOR ALL OF OUR DIVERSE FAMILY MEMBERS OF COLOR.
LET OUR CRIES FOR THEM COME UNTO YOU.

WE LIGHT OUR SEVENTH CANDLE FOR ALL RELIGIONS WHO MISUNDERSTOOD AND BEING USED AS A MEANS FOR TERROR. HELP US TO SUPPORT AND FOSTER UNDERSTANDING WITH LOVE AND TAKE TIME TO STAND UP AGAINST EXTREMISM.

LORD HEAR THE PRAYER FOR ALL RELIGIONS THAT ARE BEING MISUNDERSTOOD AND HATED.
LET OUR CRIES FOR THEM COME UNTO YOU.

Psalm 27

Triumphant Song of Confidence

Of David.
¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold^* of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

² When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.

³ Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I asked of the Lord,
   that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
   all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
   and to inquire in his temple.

⁵ For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.

⁶ Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

⁷ Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
   be gracious to me and answer me!
⁸ ‘Come,’ my heart says, ‘seek his face!’
   Your face, Lord, do I seek.
⁹   Do not hide your face from me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger,
   you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
   O God of my salvation!
¹⁰ If my father and mother forsake me,
   the Lord will take me up.

¹¹ Teach me your way, O Lord,
   and lead me on a level path
   because of my enemies.
¹² Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
   for false witnesses have risen against me,
   and they are breathing out violence.

¹³ I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
   in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
   be strong, and let your heart take courage;
   wait for the Lord!

A Song of the Heavenly City

Revelation 21:22-26, 22:1-4

I saw no temple in the city, *

for its temple is the God of surpassing strength and the Lamb.

And the city has no need of sun or moon to light it, *

for the glory of God shines on it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

By its light the nations shall walk, *

and the rulers of the world lay their honor and glory there.

Its gates shall never be shut by day, nor shall there be any night; *

into it they will bring the honor and glory of nations.

I saw the clean river of the water of life, bright as crystal, *

flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

The tree of life spanned the river, giving fruit every month, *

and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of nations.

All curses cease where the throne of God and the Lamb stands,

and all servants give worship there; *

there they will see God’s face, whose Name shall be on their foreheads.

Isaiah 43:8-13

⁸ Bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes,
   who are deaf, yet have ears!
⁹ Let all the nations gather together,
   and let the peoples assemble.
Who among them declared this,
   and foretold to us the former things?
Let them bring their witnesses to justify them,
   and let them hear and say, ‘It is true.’
¹⁰ You are my witnesses, says the Lord,
   and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
   and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
   nor shall there be any after me.
¹¹ I, I am the Lord,
   and besides me there is no saviour.
¹² I declared and saved and proclaimed,
   when there was no strange god among you;
   and you are my witnesses, says the Lord.
¹³ I am God, and also henceforth I am He;
   there is no one who can deliver from my hand;
   I work and who can hinder it?

The Song of Mary Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior, *

for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *

you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,

and holy is your name.

You have mercy on those who fear you *

from generation to generation.

You have shown strength with your arm *

and scattered the proud in their conceit,

Casting down the mighty from their thrones *

and lifting up the lowly.

You have filled the hungry with good things *

and sent the rich away empty.

You have come to the help of your servant Israel, *

for you have remembered your promise of mercy,

The promise made to our forebears, *

to Abraham and his children for ever.

John 14:1-7

Jesus the Way to the Father

14‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe^* in God, believe also in me. ²In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?^*³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴And you know the way to the place where I am going.’^* ⁵Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’⁶Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you know me, you will know^*my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’

We Praise You, O God Te Deum laudamus

We praise you, O God,

we acclaim you as Lord;

all creation worships you,

the Father everlasting.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,

the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.

The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:

Father, of majesty unbounded,

your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,

and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,

the eternal Son of the Father.

When you took our flesh to set us free

you humbly chose the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death

and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.

We believe that you will come to be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,

bought with the price of your own blood,

and bring us with your saints

to glory everlasting.

Everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with sure and certain faith in your Son's resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come

among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins,

let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver

us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and

the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Loving Jesus: Protect and sustain us with your hand. Open the

door of your love that, sealed with your wisdom, we may be free

to serve you with joy. Amen.

(a prayer of St. Gertrude)

Jesus, you are the way through the wilderness: show us your truth

in which we journey, and by the grace of the Holy Spirit be in us

the life that draws us to God. Amen.

(source: F.B. McNutt, The Prayer Manual [London: Mowbray, 1961], p. 29,

adapted)

O God our shield and armor of light, whom we adore with all the

angelic host: defend us from evil; watch over any who are in

danger this night and give your angels charge over them; and

grant that we may always rejoice in your heavenly protection and

serve you bravely in the world; through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Amen.

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is

hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where

there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where

there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where

there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to

be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is

in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we

are born to eternal life. Amen.

Christ has no Body

Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks. Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. - Teresa of Avila

Let us pray the Alternative form of the Lord's Prayer as found in the New Zealand Prayer Book

Eternal Spirit,

Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,

Source of all that is and that shall be,

Father and Mother of us all,

Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!

The way of your justice be followed by the peoples

of the world!

Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!

Your commonwealth of peace and freedom

sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.

From trials too great to endure, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,

now and for ever. Amen.

Everything Has Its Time

From Ecclesiastes 33 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

The Beatitudes Matthew 5:3–12

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (5:3)

Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)

Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)

Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10

Let us pray these words to each other:

The light of Christ In me recognizes the light of Christ in you.

For the Human Family

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us

through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole

human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which

infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;

unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and

confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in

your good time, all nations and races may serve you in

harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ

our Lord. Amen.

Let us Sow Seeds of:

C= Compassion

A= Acceptance

L= Love

M = Mercy

Let us speak in words that are:

C= Comforting

A= Appreciative

L= Living and Loving

M= Mindful and Matter

Let our deeds be:

C= Caring and Compassionate

A= Admirable

L= Life giving

M= Mannerly

Let us choose to live a life of Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy. Let choose to speak in words that are courageous, amiable, enLightening, Mannered, and Make sense and don't harm or divide. Let our deeds be all these things.

We pray these #HashtagsWithMeaning our #AdventWords2018!

God we give thanks for our yearly #journey to seek Jesus in the manger and celebrate His birth.

God help us to keep #Watch over our family members who need us the most and take the Matthew 25 Pledge daily: I pledge to protect and defend vulnerable people in the name of Jesus.

God, help us to #Focus on what matters most during this season of watchful waiting and joyful expectation.

God, we pray for all of our family members who are homeless, hungry and ill-clad during the cold winter #nights. May we remember that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were in similar situations.

God, we pray that we may become your #Light shiners to this fragile and broken world. May we carry your #light with love, joy, hope, peace, and be the change you want us to be in the world.

God,we pray that we may lead lives rooted in the fruits of the spirit and may#Sprout healthy branches that will be able to foster goodness and love and serve all of your family members throughout the world.

God, we pray that we may be #Alert to your voice and what you are calling us to do and to be.

God, we pray and give thanks for times of going into the #wild just to be with you and in your time come out refreshed, renewed, and empowered to do your will and work for you and with you.

God, we #Cry out in prayer and as voices for all who are in need or in trouble. We remember all refugees, homeless, persecuted, racially profiled, bullied and abused and we remember especially those who are seeking asylum. We add our own petitions here_______________.

God, we pray that we may #Go out in to the world and serve you and #Grow in the way of Jesus.

God, we pray and give thanks for #Rough times when we need to acknowledge our dependence upon you and each other.

God, we pray for ways in which to #smooth things over with our family members when situations become #Rough and rocky especially during this time of year.

God, help us we pray to #prune all of the dead gunk in our heart homes so that we may make room for Jesus in our hearts this season and year to come.

God we lift up these our prayers as we #prepare to worship you on the morrow, in the name of Jesus your Son. Amen.

God help us to learn how to #Rejoice during times of dis-ease. God give us strength to see and feel joy in times of sorrow.

God we #Sing praises to you and give thanks for all that you are doing in the lives of your children.

God we give thanks for our #Ancestors who are our role models and have walked life's #journey before us. May we do the same for generations to come.

God #Wash our hearts and minds from all malicious thoughts and actions, that we may be ever fixed on You and loving and serving our neighbors who are made in your image and likeness.

God help us to have our hearts set #Ablaze with love and in service to you!

God give us courage to #Watch and wait for the #Sign of your son Jesus' Second coming.

God we pray the words of the Ancient Hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel! May Emmanuel come soon.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave. Refrain

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain

O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery. Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain

O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call. Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace. Refrain

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear. Refrain

God we pray these our prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

We light this final candle for our peace, hope, love, and joy in the world and within ourselves:

God of Love help us to be loving to all of our family of love. We pray that we may lovingly respond to each other's needs and concerns.

O Come Emmanuel, Come Soon and enliven our spirits with your compassion, acceptance, love and mercy! May we always show love, bring joy, give hope, and make peace to all of our family members and living things.

God of Love we pray for all who are traveling the next few days to visit loved ones. We pray for all of our loved ones whom we haven't seen for awhile.