(Thanksgiving) Rejoicing in and testifying of the advent of Christ, drawn from Luke 2:38: 
 
At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 

Heavenly Father: 

As a church, we are gathered to rejoice in the infinite stoop of Christ’s Incarnation and first advent. Because of your love and your eternal purpose to save, your Son bent to take on human form, lived the perfect human life, died an obedient human death, and satisfied perfectly the demands of your justice for sin, providing for the redemption of all who will look to you in repentance and faith. And because of that, we can gather today and rejoice in your purpose and your accomplishment of that purpose. 

We are amazed at your provision, and we respond with worshipful rejoicing that our salvation is made sure, and our freedom purchased. In Christ’s death, death and the fear of death is now defeated; in Christ’s reconciliation, we were not restored only to that point from where Adam fell, but we have been raised further and brought in as heirs in Christ, calling out to you as our Father. In Christ’s redemption, we do not merely sigh in relief that our condemnation is set aside, but we exult that Christ’s righteousness is our very own.    

And yet, in our sin and our frailty, how often do we lose sight of what you have done and are doing! How frequently do we allow our joy to be turned to discontent. So often, we are tempted to turn your advent to the ashes and bitterness of our own purposes, pursuing self-worth, and self-gratification. Forgive us, Father, for looking upon the blessed Savior of the world with dull, uncaring, and distracted eyes. 

Bring us back again and again to meditate on the beauty of the gift of Christ. With Anna, may we live in sight of our need for a savior, and rejoice continually at your promised provision of that Savior.  

With Anna, may our joy and thankfulness be made public, Father. Forgive us for our stingy, fearful privacy in our Gospel proclamation and discipleship. As we see our need for salvation, and as we look upon our incarnate Savior, may our conversations with each other and our testimony before the world be one of thankful, ecstatic, rejoicing boldness.  

We know, Father, that not all of us will be caught up in work, family, community, and even church get-togethers during this season, nor will we be given significant opportunities to proclaim this joy to others. For reasons bound up in your wise Providence, some of us will be alone, removed, and even distant from those who we love and the joys of this season. We pray that you would replace loneliness and the temptation to resentment with deep meditation on Christ and with the joy that flows from his first advent. In less than favorable contexts, grant that like Anna, we too would rejoice in your redeeming purpose and that we would boldly proclaim the joy of the promised, saving Christ to our own hearts.  

You are gracious, you are great in faithful love, and you are worthy of all worship, all glory, and all our breath in rejoicing and proclaiming your salvation.  

This we pray in Christ’s name, Amen.