My goodness! Is your Advent season becoming as busy as mine? It is Wednesday and I am just now posting the Litany for week three. My apologies! But this is certainly the nature of the season for so many of us. All the more reason to be still!
With last week’s Litany we experienced the hard part of Advent: the time when we look around and see the pain of the world. But it’s necessary to sit in the darkness, for only then will we recognize the light – the Light of the World – as it emerges on Christmas day.
This week we begin to see hints that the Light is with us, finally understanding that we have never been alone – nor will we ever be. God is with us, and soon will be among us in human form.
Where do you see signs of God’s presence in a dark world? What hope do you have?
(the following is an excerpt from the Advent Litany for the November/December 2014 issue of The Upper Room, reprinted with permission) 
Advent Worship Litanies 2014
During Advent we are invited to open ourselves to God’s loving Spirit. One of the best ways to do this is by being still. While our world maintains a hectic pace at this time of year, we have an opportunity to quiet our bodies, minds, and spirits, helping us to prepare for God’s glorious gift of love on Christmas day.
Note: There are many ways to be still, including the use of prayer beads. If you have a set of prayer beads, I encourage you to use them with this Advent Litany. The words to Say can be used with the cruciform beads, while you can use your week beads to Consider how the litany applies to your life. (Alternative directions: Use each bead to consider how the litany applies to your life.)
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Light three purple candles (or two purple and one pink).
Read: Psalm 27, Romans 15:7-13
Reflect: As we sit in stillness with our sin and suffering, something marvelous happens: we begin to recognize that we are not alone. We hear God’s words of love and assurance and realize God has been present with us all along, even in the darkness. Our hope is renewed.
Say: In this season of Advent we will trust that God is with us even in the darkness. We will place our hope in God’s abundant grace.
Consider: Where do you see signs of God’s presence in the midst of the darkness? How do you nurture hope in your life?
Pray: Sustainer God, help us to place our hope in you and your deep love for us. Amen.
