Day 1 - Counting Down to Christmas

My husband and I had the pleasure of attending Seattle Pacific University's "The Sacred Sounds of Christmas" at Benaroya Hall in Seattle yesterday afternoon. It was a gloriously beautiful two hours of music and celebration. The first Sunday of Advent and we were able to spend it surrounded by the words and music men have written to describe the beauty of Jesus and the gift He gave to us, first in His birth and later at the cross.

There are twenty-four days until Christmas and the program SPU provided for the afternoon is filled with Scripture, songs, prayers, excerpts from prayers and sermons. So many I decided to type out one a day until Christmas Eve.

May you be blessed by these as I was and may your eyes, heart and mind be filled with the glory and beauty of why we celebrate Christmas - the gift of God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

This is from the program, my choice for Day 1:

Advent Prayer:

Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness,
Send Your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to

hear Your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things

look forward to Your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways

long for the complete joy of Your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of Your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To You we say, "Come Lord Jesus!"

~Henri J.M. Nouwen (1932-96)