Almighty God,
In your graciousness, and by your Holy Spirit, you bless us with sanctuary and rest in your son Jesus Christ. You bless us by calling and drawing us to you and to unity with each other.
King Jesus,
In our daily struggle with our own sin, the darkness in this world can make it seem like there is no hope. In the midst of our struggles, comfort us with the truth that you are active in the “here and now” through your Word and your body and blood. Comfort us with the truth that it is precisely into our struggles where you enter, in order to help us, and to carry us in hope.Turn us to you in hope, Lord
“Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”.
In this Advent season as we celebrate and reflect on your entry into your creation to save it, spark our hearts to shout along with the church eternal at your coming and your promised return, “Hosanna!”, “Save us!” Remind us that when we shout “Hosanna!” it is out of our need for salvation, but also in faith that in you, we are already saved. Saved from the clutches of sin, death, and the devil. For the King we welcome is the humble Servant King, the King who willingly bears the wrath of God in our stead, that by His blood we are adopted into His perfect Sonship as full heirs of His Kingdom.
Amen.