Advent (sun)Day 8: Peace - A New Possibility

Advent Day 8 – Peace : A New Possibility

If you or your church community participates in the Advent by lighting candles as a way of remembering God’s hope, peace, joy, love, you may recall:  Last weekend we lit the first candle—the candle of hope.
Today we light the second candle, the candle of PEACE. We light it knowing full well that peace is elusive, and in some parts of the world, it is almost completely absent. Yet in this season of Advent, we trust that God is never absent from us. God is always preparing something new. And even where there is war and discord, whether between countries, within families, or within our own hearts, God is present, gently leading us to new possibilities.
Isaiah 2:1-5
¹ This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
² In the last days
the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established
as chief among the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
³ Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
⁴ He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
⁵ Come, O house of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the LORD.

ADVENT PRAYER
Loving God, in this time of preparation and planning, 
We thank you for the hope and peace you unfailingly offer us. 
Show us the creative power of hope.
Teach us the peace that comes from justice. 
Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you,
That we may walk in the light of Christ.

ADVENT ACTION
Today attempt to bring peace on earth in ONE relationship where hostility/anger/division currently resides.  Before attending a church gathering or perhaps before watching a football game or before finishing those Christmas decorations, go to your neighbor/brother/mother/co-worker and wage peace instead of war.  Pray and prepare for transformation.  Pick up the phone or go for a walk.  Ask for forgiveness or allow forgiveness to take root.