Spirit of Life, God known as deepening humanity, God known in intimate encounter, God known in and through nature....We celebrate this season of anticipation and the birth of love again in the world. We affirm this season and all time as holy and sacred in its passage. In this gathering time, we convey both our angst and awe - for we find ourselves in resignation and risk-taking, in our passivity and passion as the holiday season unfolds. We unite as many and as one - committing again to the journey before us - a road filled with challenge and change, of loss and loved ones. Might we with fresh vision and open mind consider what this season may hold - what may be realized, let go, taken on. In this silence we wonder and envision essential priority, people and plans in this holy and hurried time. (Silence)

Enlivening Spirit – dancing between us, pervasive beyond this sphere, in our intuition, in extraordinary knowing and within us in the bonds and joy of love and love-making - you rove on a nomadic quest - roaming the roads of our egos, disrupting our distorted discriminations and self-righteous beliefs. You are light; we are light and the Advent that darkness cannot overcome. We lift our glasses to inspiration, new birth, new life, new commitments and to the celebrations of the birth of one who would demonstrate a human and holy love and a way of peace, justice and surprise. Resounding gratitude be to all that is good and beautiful, truthful and lasting. In this silence we commit to making the feasts, holidays and parties of this winter season festivals of inner fire and carnivals of community - remembering to include and embrace, reconcile and welcome. (Silence)

May our and all love strip us naked of all weapons and motivations for conquest and arrogance - which are not the tools of lovers, wise ones and children of light. Let us be Advent adventurers and peacemakers, disarmed and vulnerable to a new emergence of joy and peace so needed in this world. As we commit to these things, we remember all those close to us and those in need. All those in sickness and in health, those rich and poor, those in war and conflict, in tragedy and change, those lonely, depressed, discouraged. We remember all those living with AIDS and those looking for its cure and end. In this time and in all times, may our love, our embraces, our risks, our tenderness and faithfulness - our words and actions - be as the divine in us greeting the divine in everything and everyone all around. Each of us - now and for the rest of our days. Amen.

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