If Advent is about preparation, it is also about praise and worship; acknowledging and celebrating the gift of God’s Son. The following prayer, taken from my book Prayers for All Seasons (Book 2), is aimed primarily at those responsible for leading public worship at this special time of year, but you may equally want to use it in your own personal devotions.
Advent: a time of worship
Loving God,
at this time of giving and receiving,
of showing our love and gratitude to others
through the exchanging of cards and presents,
we are reminded of the great gift you have given us in Christ
and of how little we have to offer in return.
You have blessed us in so much:
receive our worship.
Whatever we might bring, it can never repay you.
Whatever we might sacrifice,
it can scarcely begin to express our thanks,
but what we can offer and gladly bring
is our praise,
our homage,
our adoration,
offered in the name of Jesus.
You have blessed us in so much:
receive our worship.
Like the choir of angels on the night of his birth
we sing your praise and tell out the good news.
Like the shepherds, returning from the manger,
we give you the glory for all that we have heard and seen.
Like the magi, kneeling in wonder,
we offer our gifts as a token of our love
and sign of our commitment.
You have blessed us in so much:
receive our worship.
Loving God,
at this time of giving and receiving
we do not have much to bring to you,
but we offer this time together –
our songs,
our reading,
our thinking, speaking and listening –
and we offer ourselves, such as we are,
in reverent praise and joyful celebration.
You have blessed us in so much:
receive our worship.
In the name of Christ.
Amen.