Tag: Glory

God’s glory revealed

 

And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
      and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

 

 

My local congregation in Rotterdam has adopted the theme, “Light in the darkness”, for Advent 2022. In addition to Sunday morning services, there are Bible study materials, a team working on a cloth banner in stages with the design fully realized by week 4, and evening services where we can further explore the theme, also with candles.

A busy season for me, no doubt for you too. Hopefully, through it all, we will grow closer to God and to one another, as we look forward to celebrating the birth of “the true light that gives light to everyone” (John 1:9) and seek to live more faithfully in the light of his coming again.

 

Advent Prayer: Maranatha

Maranatha,
Come, Lord Jesus, come soon.

The glory of God shall be revealed
and all flesh shall see it together

Maranatha,
Come, Lord Jesus, come soon!

Sing aloud, waste places of Jerusalem!
Sing to the God who gives courage and strength.

Maranatha,
Come, Lord Jesus, come soon!

You who are unsure of what you believe,
or whether you believe at all: listen!

You who are weighed down by thoughts of failure,
or feelings of grief: listen!

You whose hearts are heavy,
whose problems seem insurmountable: listen!

Soon God’s salvation will come;
God’s deliverance will be revealed.

For a woman shall conceive and bear a son
and shall call his name Emmanuel: God with us

Maranatha
Come, Lord Jesus, come soon!

 
From re:worship
 

From the blog
3 Prayers for Advent
In the darkness
On the threshold of tomorrow
 

3 Prayers to our Father


Golden hour
 

Our Father … yours is the …. glory …
Yes. Yes. Yes.

 

This is Eugene Peterson’s version of the Lord’s Prayer, from The Message:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
      as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
      Yes. Yes. Yes.

 
 

Here are three more prayers to “Our Father”, directly inspired by the prayer Jesus taught his disciples.

 

#1

Father in heaven,
in your goodness
you pour out on your people all that they need,
and satisfy those who persist in prayer.
Make us bold in asking,
thankful in receiving,
tireless in seeking,
and joyful in finding,
that we may always proclaim your coming kingdom
and do your will on earth as in heaven.
Amen.

 
~ from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers
 

#2

Our father who dwells in the heavens and on the earth, you are holy.

May heaven be a greater present reality here on earth, and may we choose to join you in making that happen.

Provide us today with the things that you think we need, and may we not take for granted that which you have already provided.

Forgive us when we don’t live as you intend, and may we be ready to forgive others when they don’t live as we intend.

Guide us in your wisdom away from the things that would distort us, and restore the parts in us that are already distorted.

You are goodness, beauty and truth.
May your love always rule. 
Amen.

 
~ written by Rebekah Long, sourced from re:worship
 

#3

Abba, our God, whom the heavens disclose,
may your name be held holy,
your authority come.
May your longing be fulfilled as in heaven,
so on earth.
Give us today the bread of tomorrow,
and cancel our debts
as we have already forgiven our debtors.
Do not draw us in to sinful enticement,
but set us free from the grip of evil;
for authority and power and glory
are yours alone, forever.
Amen.

 
~ from the Alternative Service Book (1980), Church of England,
sourced from re:worship.

 

 
From the blog
Check the index for more prayers in the “3 Prayers” series, and much more besides.