Gather for Adventনমুনা

Gather at the Manger and Know Peace - A Reading

Reader 1: The world around us is full of trouble.

Reader2: Have you read the news lately?

R1: Wars

R2: And rumors of war

R1: Natural disasters

R2: Human tragedies

R1: Injustice and pain.

R2: But trouble isn’t just in some far away place.

R1: It isn’t only a headline in a newspaper.

R2: People in our own lives experience great challenges and trials.

R1: Take a moment to think about someone in your own circumstances.

R2: Someone who faces great trouble:

R1: A colleague at work

R2: A fellow student at school

R1: A mother or father

R2: A sibling

R1: A cousin

R2: A friend

R1: People who face the impossible

R2: People who need a miracle

R1: People in distress.

Pause for a moment to let people reflect.

R2: There is trouble and anxiety in our own hearts too.

R1: As we reflect on the miracle of Advent this Christmas season, we must take heart.

R2: Take heart today, because we can go to the manger and know peace.

R1: Like the shepherds who watched over sheep in a Roman-occupied land, and longed for their circumstances to change

R2: Men who were on the lookout for thieves and animals who might steal their sheep,

R1: Men who experienced the troubles and struggles of everyday life—

R2: Like the shepherds let us run to the Prince of Peace.

R1: Like the Wise Men who studied the stars and looked carefully to understand things

R2: Individuals who had such wisdom and knowledge but were not satisfied in their hearts with the understanding they had in their minds

R1: So that they had to set out to worship the true King—

R2: Like the Wise Men let us go to the manger to honor the Prince of Peace.

R1: Like Mary who was misunderstood by those around her, an unmarried pregnant teen,

R2: A young woman with a story about God that people were reluctant to believe,

R1: A person called by God to do something truly impossible and truly good—

R2: Like Mary, let us cling to the Prince of Peace.

R1: And like the disciples who lived and walked with Jesus

R2: People who listened to his words and sat at his feet

R1: Men and women who let their lives be interrupted by Jesus and followed after him—

R2: Like the disciples let us believe the comforting words spoken by the Prince of Peace:

R1: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you;

R2: I do not give it to you as the world does.

R1: Do not let your hearts” be troubled.

R2: This Advent season we take time to remember that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

R1: His peace is a peace that passes understanding.

R2: His peace is a peace that lasts.

R1: As we light the Candle of Advent we remember that Jesus is our peace.

R2: Today we come to the manger to know God’s peace.

Action:

As you light the candle of Advent, remember that Jesus is the Prince of Peace who brings a lasting, unshakable peace to our hearts, no matter what we face.