This Sunday night, November 29, our WMF community will gather with our Argentine partners to light the first candle of Advent, the candle of hope. Our liturgy will include worship, reflection, Lectio Divina and prayer. Postured with hope, peace, joy and love, our time will also include lighting candles around the Advent wreath in a spirit of prayer for our friends who live in poverty in our La Boca and Barracas neighborhoods and the Retiro train station. Like the green of the Advent wreath that symbolizes life, we will pray for life that we hope for our friends, a life to the fullest that Jesus offers (John 10:10). We will close with the following prayer in Spanish.
Señor, que estemos atentos a todas las señales de tu venida
Lord may we be attentive to all the signs of your coming
Que reflejemos paz en un mundo en guerra
May we reflect peace in a world at war
Y ofrezcamos libertad para aquellos que están oprimidos.
And the offer of freedom for those who are oppressed.
Que veamos abundante generosidad en medio del hambre
May we see generous giving in the midst of hunger
Que traigamos la cura a los que están enfermos
May we be bringers of healing to those who are sick
Y esperanza a los que están en desesperación.
And offer hope to those who are in despair.
Traenos calma para esperar el regalo de Cristo;
Calm us to wait for the gift of Christ;
Límpianos para preparar el camino de Cristo;
Cleanse us to prepare the way for Christ;
Enséñenos a contemplar la maravilla de Cristo;
Teach us to contemplate the wonder of Christ;
Tocanos para conocer la presencia de Cristo;
Touch us to know the presence of Christ;
Únjenos para llevar la vida de Cristo
Anoint us to bear the life of Christ
AMEN
Taken from Christine Sine’s GodSpace blog (http://godspace.wordpress.com)