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During Advent on Living Lutheran, we shared a weekly prayer, Scripture and accompanying activity for you to complete with a group or as a solo project.
In weeks one through three, our activities created space for you to recognize hope, bring fruits of kindness into your communities and collect moments of joy. We hope you will take the opportunity to reflect on the positivity found in those activities and will continue to create a space for reflection, community and celebration as you anticipate the joy of Christmas.
PRAYER (FROM ELCA PRAYER VENTURES):
“Pray that our actions and words might reflect the light of God’s love, stirring hope, joy and compassion.”
SCRIPTURE:
“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“‘Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us.’
“When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.” —Matthew 1:18-25
ACTIVITY: NEIGHBORHOOD LIGHT WALK
Instructions:
1. Invite friends, family or neighbors to join you for a short walk in your neighborhood (or go alone!).
2. As you pass homes and landmarks, silently pray for those in your community or send them good wishes and positive thoughts.
3. Reflect on Emmanuel — God with us — in your community. Take in the lights, decorations and beauty of God’s creation.
4. End with a simple, spoken prayer together: “God-with-us, dwell among us.”
Discussion questions:
• What feelings or thoughts came up as you reflected on God’s presence during the walk?
• How did praying for your neighbors during the walk change the way you view your community?
• Which of the previous activity themes — hope, kindness, joy — stood out most to you, and why?
