A Prayer for Second Week of Advent

This week is the second week of Advent. We’ve been thinking all this first week as a family about the theme of Promise in our Advent devotion. We’ve been praying with our kids each night “Dear God, help me to keep all my promises just as you kept yours”. This week we focus on the theme of Light. Coincidentally, last night we went to church and heard an excellent sermon by one of our teaching pastors, Jameson Ross, on Jesus as the Light.

The Book of Common Prayer has this prayer for Advent’s second Sunday. The prayer complements the idea that Jesus is a light that reveals our sins and leads to repentance, and this aspect of Jesus’ person, when appropriately embraced, prepares us for his coming:

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.