Fourth Sunday of Advent

by Steve Garnaas-Holmes

God-with-Us, Emmanuel, Savior,
     come to us, and bring us your peace.
Help us find our joy and our purpose;
     restore us, and bring us your peace.
May the dreams that we have and our visions
     give us hope, and bring us your peace.
Holy Child, come among us and claim us:
     make us family, and give us your peace.
Coming One, awaken us to one another,
     stir up our love, and give us your peace.
God-with-Us, Emmanuel, Savior,
     be born in us, and give us your peace.
Amen.

Steve Garnaas-Holmes is a poet, songwriter, and ordained pastor in the UMC in MA, where he lives with his wife, Beth. He writes a daily reflection, Unfolding Light (unfoldinglight.net), as well as lectionary-based music and worship resources.

Credit: Advent/Christmas prayers by Steve Garnaas-Holmes. © 2013 Alive Now. Permission granted to use in corporate worship settings. From November/December 2013 Alive Now. Copyright © 2013 by The Upper Room.