Wednesday, December 22






Romans 2:9-16


9 Tribulation and anguish,
upon every soul of man that doeth evil,
of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace,
to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first,
and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall
also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law
shall be judged by the law;
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God,
but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law,
do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law,
are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts,
their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean
while accusing or else excusing one another,
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men
by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.



Today's Prayer...


Dear Father in heaven,

Let your joy be always in us, your children.
Let your joy bring light and peace to our lives,
no matter what happens around us. May we serve you in joy,
aware of your peace at all times, so that something of this peace
may go out from us to grieving hearts and to regions of the world
that are in darkness. Father in heaven, how many unhappy people
look up without knowing where to find help! But you will come to them.
We beseech you, come to those who mourn, and let them find joy and
trust for their redemption in Jesus Christ.


In the Name of the Most Holy we
pray in Jesus' Name

Amen

Thursday, December 23






Isaiah 52:7-12


7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet
of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace;
that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation;
that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice;
with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall
see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.
9 Break forth into joy, sing together,
ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted
his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the
eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall
see the salvation of our God.
11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence,
touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her;
be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.
12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight:
for the Lord will go before you; and the
God of Israel will be your reward.



Today's Prayer...


Dear Father in heaven,

Our Father in heaven and our Father on earth,
our Lord and our Ruler, we thank you that to this
very day you have guarded and guided us and
delivered us from great need. We praise you with
hearts full of hope as we continue on our pilgrimage.
For [i]Christmas Day is coming with its message of hope
that we may somehow bring honor to you in spite of all
hindrances, mistakes, and sin, in spite of all death and the
horror of dying. We know that you hold us in your hands.
With your help we can look ahead, and again and again
we may take a small step forward and live to the praise
and honor of your name.
So be with us now and bless us.[/i]


In the Name of the Most Holy we
pray in Jesus' Name

Amen

Friday, December 24






Luke 1:26-35


26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from
God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail,
thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying,
and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary:
for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest:
and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel,
How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called
the Son of God.



Today's Prayer...


Lord God, our Father in heaven,

You have sent us the Savior, who was born to bring great joy to all people.
Glorify your name, we pray. Give the world the peace you alone can give,
the peace that wells up in our hearts. Let your favor rest on us so that we
may hold out under our sufferings on earth. We need your loving help to
remain inwardly steadfast until everyone can be reached by the message,
"Be strong in the grace of Jesus Christ."


In the Name of the Most Holy we
pray in Jesus' Name

Amen

Saturday, December 25






Luke 2:4-14


4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David,
which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David: )
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife,
being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there,
the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger;
because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds
abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:
and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men.



Today's Prayer...


Lord God, our Father in heaven,

You have sent light to shine on earth and have revealed your
heavenly power in Jesus Christ, so that in spite of all the darkness
and evil we may rejoice because we have a Savior.
Reveal your power in our day. Let something be done anew
toward the building of your kingdom on earth. Let something
draw men's hearts to you to give them light so that they may
thank and praise you for all you have done and are still doing
to bring the whole world into your hands. O Lord God,
let men be moved by the opening of the heavens.
May their hearts awaken and their sadness give way to joy in
Jesus Christ the Savior. We are your children who are allowed
to wait in expectation for you to set everything right.
We can know that even in our troubled times your hand is
at work to reveal your will, to make your will plain to all
generations on earth, as you promised through Abraham.
May your name be glorified, O Lord God.
May your name be honored, your kingdom come,
and your will be done on earth as in heaven.


In the Name of the Most Holy we
pray in Jesus' Name

Amen