THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Wendell Berry

ADVENT PRAYERS

PRAYER FOR WEEK 1: HOPE

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
We are easily distracted by the darkness that comes with unease and anxiety.
Source of light, shine in our lives and in your world with your renewing hope.

PRAYER FOR WEEK 2: PEACE

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
We are easily distracted by the darkness of force and power and we often choose strife and turmoil.
Source of light, shine in our lives and in your world with your everlasting peace.

PRAYER FOR WEEK 3: JOY

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
We are easily distracted by the darkness of doubt and despair.
Source of light, shine in our lives and in your world with your light and life giving joy.

PRAYER FOR WEEK 4: LOVE

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
We are easily distracted by the darkness of isolation and fear.
Source of light, shine in our lives and in your world with your unending love.

PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. 
We are easily distracted by our old lives and with history and by what has been.
Christ is born among us and our hope is made new.
Source of light, shine in our lives and in your world with your transforming power.