PRAYER FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT

    A SEASON OF LONGING AND EXPECTATION

LEADER  Awake my soul, a new day is dawning 

SING   “City of God” 

Awake from your slumber.
            Arise from your sleep.
            A new day is dawning for all those who weep. 

LEADER        Deepening shadows and lengthening darkness beckon us to see, to  hear, to  imagine. (Pause) 

SUNITA’S STORY

My father loved me and my step-mother detested me.  After my father died my step-mother withdrew me from school. She used to beat me on a regular basis, so I ran away when was twelve. I got a job in a maternity hospital and fell in love with Bishal. Bishal introduced me to some men and they said they would take me to Darjeeling. When we arrived in Darjeeling, Bishal put me in a dark room and I never saw him again. I was told he sold me for 90,000 rupees.

The very next day I was put to work in the brothel from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm. On the average I had 20 clients a day.  If I refused to work, I was severely beaten. Condoms were not often used and I became pregnant. The madam forced me to abort when I was seven months pregnant. I had a lot of bleeding after the operation but I still had to work and entertain the customers or I was not given anything to eat. 

SILENT REFLECTION 

RESPONSE   Be strong; take heart.
                        -     To you I lift up my soul.
                        Wait for the Lord.
                           - To you I lift up my soul 

SLOWLY READ ALOUD AND PRAY PSALM 14 as if you were Sunita.  

ANTIPHON      To you I lift up my soul; for you I wait all day long.  

SILENT REFLECTION 

FAITH SHARING   As Sunita, what thoughts and feelings are you experiencing? 

SLOWLY REREAD ALOUD PSALM 14, this time as yourself.

SILENT REFLECTION 

FAITH SHARING       What thoughts and feelings are you experiencing ? 

SLOWLY REREAD PSALM 14 AGAIN, this time with Sunita. 

SILENT REFLECTION     

FAITH SHARING       What thoughts and feelings are you now experiencing? Has there been any movement or change? 

INTERCESSIONS    (Hildegard of Bingen) 

RESPONSE              Comfort, comfort my people, says our God. 

Gracious God, you are precious salve for broken bones, for festering wounds…
Bulwark of Life, you are the hope of oneness for all that which is separate…..
Holy Spirit, Clear Fountain, in you we perceive God who gathers the perplexed and  seeks the lost…. 

ADDITIONAL PRAYERS…... 

SONG OF HANNAH   1 Samuel 2:1-2, 5, 7-9 

ANITPHON    Shadow me with your wings until all danger passes.
Extend to me, O God, Your love that never fails.
My heart exults in the Lord,
my strength is exalted in my God.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in my victory.
There is no Holy One like the Lord,
no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God. 

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn. 

The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
God brings low but also exalts.
The Most High raises up the poor from the dust,
lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor. 

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s
and on them God has set the world.
The most High will guard the feet of the faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness;
for not by might does one prevail. 

CLOSING PRAYER 

Above the clamor of our violence
your word of truth resounds,
O God of majesty and power.
Over nations enshrouded in despair, your justice dawns.
Grant your household a discerning spirit and a watchful eye
to perceive the hour in which we live.
Hasten the advent of that day
when the weapons of war shall be banished,
our deeds of darkness cast off,
and all your scattered children gathered into one.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near:
Your son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.   ( First Sunday of Advent)