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We invite you to take a moment, center yourself and read this prayer–as we pray with and for you.
This Advent Week four prayer was submitted by Dr. Tim Hartman, Associate Professor of Theology
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love Incarnate, Love Divine;
Worship we our Jesus,
But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.[1]
Loving God who is One-in-Three and Three-in-One,
We thank you for sending Jesus Christ to earth as Love incarnate; God-in-the-flesh who moved into our neighborhoods. Truly, as the poet Christina Rossetti wrote in the 1880s: “Love came down at Christmas.” In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we see the Love of God lived out; God lived among humanity to be Love among us. Journeying through life with Love changes how we understand who God is, how we understand ourselves, and how we understand our world. This Advent, may we receive this transforming Love of God into the depths of our being. May encountering the Love of God in Jesus Christ lead us to actively practice mercy as we receive God’s mercy towards us.
In the name of the Incarnate One we pray, Amen.
[1] Christina Rossetti first published this poem without a title in her Time Flies: A Reading Diary in 1885. It was later included in her collection Verses in 1893 under the title “Christmastide.”
Visit Columbia Theological Seminary’s complete Advent Resource Hub for more liturgy, art, music, lesson plans, and more!
