We seek the mighty God
in the most unlikely places
as a child in a stable,
and in an empty tomb.
May God hear these prayers,
which come from the unlikely corners of our lives.

God of justice and peace,
from the heavens you rain down mercy and kindness,
that all on earth may stand in awe and wonder
before your marvelous deeds.
Raise our heads in expectation,
that we may yearn for the coming day of the Lord
and stand without blame before your Son, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns forever and ever.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

Come, Lord Jesus;
Into our troubles and weaknesses,
Into the barren places of our souls
Into the war-torn and the refugee,
Into those who live in conflict
Come among us and make us whole.

Come, Lord Jesus;
Into the homeless and the unemployed,
Into those who feel abandoned,
Into the sick and the disabled,
Into those with cancer and terminal illnesses
Come among us and make us whole.

Come, Lord Jesus;
Into the poor and the starving,
Into those who are oppressed or abused,
Into the lives of loved ones,
Into those from whom we are estranged
Come among us and make us whole.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O Christ, we long for your coming.
We wait for that day when those who seek you
in every nation will come from the east and the west,
from the north and the south and sit at table in Your Kingdom.

We long for the day when your Kingdom will come in all its glory
and suffering and pain and sickness
and oppression and death
will be overcome forever.

Give us ears to hear, O God,
and eyes to watch,
that we may know your presence in our midst
during this holy season of joy
as we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy