Our Ministries
27 Nov

First Sunday of Advent

Welcome to Advent

Welcome to Advent! The images in our readings are so relevant to what many of us are experiencing in daily life. These days, we know for certain that we are not in control of what happens. We are indeed clay in the hands of our potter, God! I don’t know about you, but I find myself changing without exerting a great or even conscious effort. Paying attention, slowing down, and being grateful for what I have, bringing to mind all the people I love and miss and long to share hugs with, and just waiting.  We are waiting for a vaccine. We are waiting for so many things.

We can wait because we know that God is faithful. We may, however, also subscribe to the maxim I hear often: Pray like everything depends on God and work like everything depends on you. Paying attention to how God is “molding” us in these pandemic times helps us to recognize the bounteous ways in which we are graced.

Advent is also a time of being God’s faithful love to others—in the love and care for our families, in our workplace, in our volunteer efforts, in our donations to our favorite causes, in our work for justice, in our working together as a community.

This Advent, may we be found watchful, alert, and ready! We sing Tom Booth’s song creation often.

“Find Us Ready”

Tom Booth

Find us ready, Lord, not standing still.
Find us working and loving and doing your will.
Find us ready, Lord, faithful in love,
building the kingdom that’s here and above,
building the kingdom of mercy and love.

We must wait for the Lord
for we know not the time.
So here and today
we gather and pray,
discovering love in our midst.

We must make straight the path,
God’s love revealed.
With sin cast aside,
God’s mercy alive,
fear not for here is your God.

Lifting up those bowed down,
we prepare for our God.
Rejoice in the Lord,
for hope has been born
in hearts where our God finds a home.

Optional final ending
Brick by brick, stone by stone,
find us working and loving and doing your will.
Find us ready, Lord, faithful in love,
building the kingdom that’s here and above.

Welcome to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church