A hymn for Advent: "In All Our Days"
Devotion
God whispered grace in Bethlehem, in mother, child and manger.
So quietly did Jesus come, midst darkness, fear and danger.
God comes each day to meet us still, in home, at play and labor.
Christ comes in word, in bread and wine, and greets us in the neighbor.
When we lay down and tears are done, and thanks for life is given,
we have God's Word that Christ will come, and bring us home to heaven.
So Advent sings a song of hope in God who comes in all days.
God's faith in us to do Christ's work gives courage to us always.
The eve of Christ, we children come to find the infant Jesus.
A sign from God in heaven above — with eyes of love God sees us.
Text: Gary A. Westgard
Music: English Folk Tune; arr. Alice Parker
Hymn Tune: ELW 691
I wrote these words a few years back, after I retired and my wife and I became members of the other ELCA congregation in the community in which we were living. The hymn was the theme hymn for that Advent season. The faith I attempt to confess is simple — that in Christ we catch a glimpse of God. This is the God we worship and follow and proclaim — Jesus of Nazareth.
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for the gift of faith. How good it is to live life in the trust that I am not alone at any time, that you are as near as the very breath I breathe, that you understand me even when I do not understand myself, and that you will continue to be with me when my brief time on this earth is ended, for you have prepared a place for me no less beautiful than this place. Amen.