Advent prayer - adapted from a prayer from Catholic Relief Services

We had Advent prayer services with the priests of our Diocese this year.  At the end of our prayer service, we prayed an Advent prayer written by Catholic Relief Services.  I have adapted that prayer below:

Loving Jesus,
in your name, we mark this holy season:
As we bring forth light to defy the claims of darkness in the world,
As we bring forth joy and song to defy the claims of sadness,
As we bring forth a spirit of generosity to defy the claims of want,
As we bring forth peace to defy the claims of war.

In the darkest, saddest, most violent, most wanting corner of the world,
we all are called to look toward Bethlehem,
where in the humblest of circumstances,
in a time of repression,
in the person of a poor humble maiden from Nazareth,
in the dirtiness of the manger,
in the form of a vulnerable child,
you came to be among us and to say:
"There is indeed light in the world."

Let us be a light to others.
Let us be the fruit of the branch of Jesse's tree.
Let us be bearers of the gift of your grace.
Let us defy all the false claims on your people and on your dignity.

May we be born anew, in this season and every season,
in this age and in every age,
in this land and in every land.
in our hearts and in every human hearts.

Maranatha!
Come, Lord Jesus, come. 
AMEN.