Happy New Year! As we begin a New Church Year today -- the First Sunday of Advent -- we bring our prayers for the peace, hope, love and joy represented in the four candles on the Advent Wreath. In my diocese (Los Angeles) our bishop has called us to an Advent of Special Intentions for a just peace in Israel/Palestine. Those Special Intentions are represented in the "Lights of Hope" initiative described below. May we all be given the gift of Hope in the season of Advent as we await -- once again -- the greatest gift of all: the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.
From the Bishop of Los Angeles:
I call upon the people of this diocese to enter into a holy Advent, a time of hope and expectation, and to pray for peace in the Holy Lands. Our “Lights of Hope Program,” an initiative of “Hands in Healing,” is our opportunity to pray and to provide much needed medical supplies for the Hospital Ministries in the Diocese of Jerusalem. In the words of the psalmist:
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
They shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls,
and prosperity within thy palaces.
Let us together light candles of hope.
Let us together pray for peace.
Let us together be the people of God.
Yours in Christ,
+J. Jon Bruno
Sixth Bishop Diocesan
Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
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