Church of the Transfiguration

The word “Advent” comes from Latin and means "coming;" its purpose is to look forward to the coming of Christ to Earth; it was a season that focused on waiting. So, "Advent means something new is coming. The dawn of a new and better era. This is really what the Christmas season is all about, isn’t it? It’s the celebration of the ADVENT of a new era. God broke into time and space and entered our world" Through prayer, we can enter into God's presence and ask Him to prepare our hearts the way He prepared all of history to receive the gift of His Son. Ask the Father to use this time during Advent to cut away the distractions and make your life a place of warmth and openness. We share these prayer ideas to help you make sure there's "room at the inn" of your heart this year. First, Some Simple Things to Pray For During Advent: Pray for attentiveness to what truly matters, without being dis-tracted by trivial things. Pray for opportunities to learn something new regularly. Pray for discernment of how God would like you to set your priori-ties and the ability to focus on them consistently to fulfill His pur-poses in your life. Pray for the grace to be able to rest, become aware of God's pres-ence, and enjoy it. Pray for strong relationships with other people in the bond of a lov-ing community. Pray for peace in all situations, no matter what the circumstances. Pray for an enlivened imagination that helps you contribute to the world in creative ways. Pray for freedom from all that burdens you - past mistakes, fears, destructive habits, hurts other people have inflicted, and more. Pray for joy and a sense of humor. Pray for confidence in God's love for you and trust in His power to work things out for the best in your life. Pray for a clear mind and the ability to clearly communicate what you value to others. Pray for purity so you can grow as a person and encounter God more fully. Pray for openness to the Holy Spirit's guidance. Pray for a genuine awareness of God's grace in your life and the humility to extend grace to others. Pray for a passion to pursue justice.