Sent Forth in Hope

O God,
You wait patiently at the door knocking
For a response and invitation to enter into our lives.
You urge us to get going,
And prompt us to follow,
Your Word encourages us never to give up.

O Wisdom, help us to understand
The sound of Your voice,
Stirring us from daily routines
With challenges of self-giving and going the extra mile,
Remind us that faith is not only belief but a way to live.

O Flower of Jesse’s stem,
Help us to remember that despite failings and bad decisions in family trees,
We are offered redemption through Your Son’s unconditional love.

O Key of David, help us to seek compassion and forgiveness
When locked doors of anger and judgment keep us apart
And blind us from new ways of seeing and being.

O Lord, lead us,
Come into our lives and transform us
Show us that even with a little faith
We can foster great hopes,
As a garden makes seeds spring forth.

O Radiant Dawn, help us to hold sacred the dignity of all people,
To work together to care for our earth,
So that all may be sustained by the fruit of the land.

O King of all Nations,
You have sent your Son
To be light in the midst of darkness,
Teach us how to love more deeply,
So that hope and peace overcome despair, anger and revenge.

O Emmanuel,
Set us free from all that possesses us,
Struggles, sorrows, days when everything goes wrong,
Progress that seems so slow.
Often, we hurry too much,
Missing opportunities of holiness you hold out to us,
Help us to trust in your presence with us.

You love us with gifts we think we don’t need
And send us forth to be
People we don’t necessarily want to be.
In joyful hope,
We await your coming. Amen.

     During Advent, the youth of St. Charles School, the Latino religious education classes and youth, Atrium, elementary school religious education, On the Way, Way, and Children’s Liturgy of the Word, will be reflecting on the theme, "Sent Forth in Hope."
     Together in our Advent journey we will celebrate a season of hopeful waiting as we remember and prepare for the joy and wonder of God’s many surprises in our lives—letters from home; lunch with a friend; challenges overcome; chores done without complaint; a stranger’s guiding hand; unplanned time.
     We will reflect on circle time—a new church year; light and darkness; sleeping and waking; work, rest and play. We will learn how in ancient times, winter solstice brought a slowness to nature’s life. Wheels used in work were rested and hung; sometimes decorated with greens.
     From these wheels and waiting and watching time, the symbol of the Advent wreath evolved. We will see its circle as a symbol of hope for our world. God’s unconditional and unending love is like the color of the evergreens.
     As we light each Advent candle, we see how light overcomes darkness. We will reflect on the gifts we have been given that light our lives and give it hope—a welcome home hug, family gathered around a table sharing stories and laughter, someone who listens and cares, an invitation to join, someone who believes in you, being loved for who you are.
     We will remember how as families and community we are hope for one another. How actions, however small—a kiss of peace, a helping hand, a smile of welcome, words of understanding, presence—awaken a holiness in others as well as ourselves. We become God’s hands and feet, transforming the world into a kinder, more loving place.
     During Advent, we will seek out opportunities for hopeful words, prayers, and actions. As part of our journey, children will be invited to take a tag from the Parish Advent Giving Tree and give a gift of care and hope to those who have less. As we break bread together, we will remember the hunger of others by donating gifts of food to the St. Charles Food Pantry each Sunday. For the 9am and 11am Children’s Liturgy of the Word, baskets will be placed on the altar. Children will be invited to place their gifts of food in the baskets as they are called to gather for prayer and reflection.
     Each St. Charles youth group/grade will be invited to create an expression of the Advent theme using the symbol of the circle. The circles will be hung around the church for the 5pm Christmas Eve liturgy and remain there for all the liturgies of the Christmas season. Our youth’s expressions will be gifts of hope offered to the entire parish community.

—St. Charles Education Leaders