Christian Aid Advent Journey
As we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace, we take the time to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world, especially those living in situations of conflict and war.
For each Sunday of Advent we have produce a hort reflection, and a prayer from voices around world. These can be read out in your church service, or used for your own personal reflection.
The first Sunday of Advent
I understand their stories and their problems because I’ve lived these problems myself. Having been born a refugee also influenced my job, in the humanitarian sector. [I chose this] because I felt that at one point in time, I got the help that I clearly needed. And I got this help from people I don’t even know. I don’t know their names. I don’t know what they look like. And their generous contribution helped me to be what I am today.
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It feels linked to me that I have a duty to also give back. And by serving, maybe coming into this work also helps me to repay and to give back so that also stories like mine can be told in different parts of the world: that at one point someone got help and was able to give back to the world to help make this world a better place.
A prayer of hope
God, as we begin our preparations for the birth of Your Son, Jesus, this Christmas, we are deeply aware of the hopelessness our world faces due to ongoing conflicts.
Yet, our hope lies in Christ, who is coming to renew our world.
May You fill our hearts with hope for an end to conflicts, such as those in South Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Empower us to work towards realizing a world where peace reigns and hope is restored.
May the work of Christian Aid and its partners in conflict zones continue bringing hope to many who need it.
Collect:
God of hope, strengthen our hearts to act in service of those living with despair.
The second Sunday of Advent
We were exposed in the area where most fighting took place. We are in the middle of the fighting between the two sides. We have faced many hardships. Past situations and pains have not been forgotten. As for my little son Badu, he imitates the sounds of the big guns all the time.  I have hope that there will be peace and we will return back to our country. This is our hope because we left all our relatives behind.
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A prayer for peace
God of peace-making, peace-building, peace-restoring
As we remember those for whom peace is a far-off memory
Whose daily bread is conflict, uncertainty and fear
Grant that we who have safe beds and secure homes
Would also have the courage not just to speak peace, to keep peace
But to build peace, wherever we are.
Collect:
God of peace, strengthen our hearts to act in service of those living through violence and conflict.
The third Sunday of Advent
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When we left, my wife was pregnant. Two months ago, after we arrived here, thank God she delivered a baby. We were three, but now we are four. She delivered at the maternity ward in the camp. It was difficult under these circumstances. We live in a place where the quality of health services is not as good as they are in Sudan. We are happy despite the difficulty. The positive thing is that you are not alone in a tragedy where people help one another. That's why the people who came along with us made us create new families. After that we have hope in life and are able to continue.
A prayer of love
We rejoice in relationships and families, thankful that you designed us for community.
Forgive us our apathy in which we often look away from the hardship of others.
Cause us, in love, to look outward to others and upward to you,
And so enable us to live lives that truly display your love to our global family.
God of love, strengthen our hearts to act in service of those whose lives have been damaged by hatred.
The fourth Sunday of Advent
Rashed, an architectural engineer, and his family, have started new lives and businesses at the Wedwiel camp. His family fled after soldiers attacked their home, eventually leaving the day after bombs destroyed the house next door. Whilst their experience, like so many who have fled violence and hatred, has been very difficult, he is a hard-working and optimistic man, who still finds ways of expressing his joy and gratitude.
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The people who’ve supported us, like SAADO, I swear to God, may God bless them, their steps are very beautiful. They let us enter into new life, and they made things for us from which we could eat and drink. May God bless them.
A prayer of joy
What if God is joy? When Jesus was born, the angels proclaimed good tidings of great joy
The joy of the Lord may be inexplicable to the one who does not possess it
But, for the believer in Christ, the joy of the Lord comes as naturally as grapes on a vine
Empower us, Lord, so we can continue to bring joy to our brothers and sisters in need
Collect:
God of joy, strengthen our hearts to act in service of those who grieve.
The fifth Sunday of Advent
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