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Fire up a candle for the Advent wreath.
The birth is a week away.
Let the deer browse peacefully on their heath,
our rifles locked away.

Last remnant in our Liturgy of Greek,
let all sing Kyrie,
Christe eléison. Let all who seek
salvation, let the stray

sinner come to the church whose Lord is Christ.
Let each confess his sin
and make it known one sacrifice sufficed
long years ago to win

forgiveness in our loving Father’s eyes
and every soul’s ticket to Paradise.

—Tim Murphy