Advent is upon my soul.
Divine gift of season,
I listen for the cry of a First Born Son,
Begotten before Time begun,
And fleshed in the Virgin’s womb.

I come to her,
Who is the Ark,
Your Mercy Seat.
Kneeling beside her
In these pregnant moments,
I lay my head upon her lap.

Her wonderment and awe
In steadfast contemplation,
Inspire angels’ songs.

I hear their reverent voices
In my night.
Their chorus bids me come.
Come to the stable of simplicity.

Leave the noisy city for a deserted place,
The Wilderness whose hidden way
Leads to the waiting manger,
Now, in expectant readiness,
For the Food that will feed
The hungry world.

My Advent prayer:
Come, O Holy Infant!
Come to my straw!

Joann Nelander

One Holy Night

Though tyrants and terrors
Threaten and pursue,
Peace shines forth in Your angelic Light.

Holy Infant of the stable
You shattered my darkness
In one Holy Night.

Holy Infant of the stable
You shattered my darkness
In one Holy Night.

I, too, shiver in the cold.
As enemies draw near,
In my plight, I simply trust.

I take heart that Your angels ring me ’round.
I trust that You will be ever near,
O hallowed, holy, God of Might.

© 2017 Joann Nelander