Advent, Day 5

Luke 1:68-79; Malachi 3:5-12; Philippians 1:12-18a

God of All,
You call all your children to serve,
each with different tasks before us,
each with a unique path of service before us.
But you also lay upon all of our hearts one mission:
To prepare the way of the Lord,
motivated by love for you.
You call us to prepare our hearts
through prayer, worship, and study.
You call us to prepare those around us
by sharing your promise of grace and forgiveness.
You call us to prepare the world
by working for your justice and peace and caring for all of your creation.
You call us to prepare, for you are coming.
Because of your deep compassion,
the dawn from heaven will break upon us.
You are coming to give light to those who are in darkness and the shadow of death.
you are coming to guide us on the path of peace.
Teach us to prepare for the joy of your arrival.
Amen.