1st Sunday in Advent – Hope “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”

Welcome to week one of this Advent season!  

For our 2011 – 2012 journey from Advent to Epiphany, I have put together a weekly series of devotionals that is enhanced by Anglican prayer beads. Each devotion in the series will follow a typical Anglican prayer beads pattern that I have written to include a favorite hymn of the season.

So take a moment to reflect on today's message of hope.

The Cross

We beginning at the cross of your prayer beads, we say a prayer that sets the tone for our prayer session.

“Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and always. Amen.”

Revelation 7:12 CEB

The Invitatory

Move to the invitatory bead as we say a prayer that invites God's Holy presence.

"God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble."

Psalm 46:1 CEB

The Cruciforms

Move to the first of four cruciform beads. The prayers for these beads act as a kind of refrain.

“Come, Thou long expected Jesus born to set Thy people free”

Charles Wesley

The Weeks

Move to the first set of weeks beads on either side of the first cruciform bead. There are 7 of these weeks beads, representing the 7 days of the week to encourage us to make our prayer a daily practice. These beads are at the core of our prayers.

1. From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee. 

2. Israel's Strength and Consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art;

3. Dear Desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

4. Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, 

5. Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.

6. By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;

*Special thanks to these online resources who helped me pull this together.
http://www.kingofpeace.org/prayerbeads.htm
http://www.youversion.com/