Advent Prayer

The community: We are at prayer together in the Spirit
even while our bodies are dispersed across the area.
As we pray our thoughts touch in contemplation of the
shared words and images.

The clock: In the time of creation there was darkness
first and then there was light; there was evening and
then there was morning. Darkness is the time of hope,
of anticipation, of preparation for the coming light.
This dark anticipation is especially relevant to the
promise of Advent and so we target the time of sunset
as the focus of our prayer. There is no magic in any
particular tick of the clock but there is power in
praying forward through the dark winter evening toward
God's promised coming.

Nor is there any magic in counting the minutes we sit
in prayer with God and with each other. If you are
new to this form of praying you might start with 15
to 30 minutes but you are always welcome to share for
a longer time.

The candle: If as you begin to share in prayer you
are in a place where a flame is safe and appropriate
the act of lighting the candle may help you to enter
into the mood of prayerfulness. As you pray the light
can be a focus for your eyes and your mind and also
be a reminder of the coming Light.