The Watchword for the week:
May the God of peace sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Stir up our hearts, O Lord,to prepare the paths for your only-begotten Son:
that we may worthily serve you with hearts purified by His coming.
Psalm 126
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."
3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.
Invitation to Confession
Preparing for the coming Savior means that we need to acknowledge our need for one. Let us prepare the way for the arrival of Jesus Christ by confessing our sins:
Forgive us loving God for the winding path upon which you have to travel to find us. As we bend to the selfish influences of our culture we lose sight of your intended will for us. Too often we live by fear rather than by faith because we underestimate your power to heal the parts of us that are broken, and to correct the parts of us that have drifted from your influence. We confess that we have separated ourselves from you and our spirit, soul, and body have been used to meet our own needs rather than seeking the purity of your will. Bring us back to you so that we might respond to your grace by sharing it with others. Give us the courage to give you unhindered access to all of who we are and in so doing find ourselves blameless at your coming.
Comfort, comfort my people says your God. Speak tenderly to them and proclaim that they have suffered long enough, that their penalty is paid, and their sins are forgiven.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
Take time now to read the Daily Texts appointed for the day. Pray the words as you read them, let them sink in below the surface of your being. After you have prayed the prayer for the day, take time to pray for the joys and concerns on your heart this day. Pray especially for those who need the true meaning of this season of the Church year, that a Savior was born to reach into the pain of our lives and provide new life. When you have come to the end of that prayer time, continue as follows:
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, hear us.
Master of all the universe, we praise your name because you have lovingly made each one of us. As we orient our lives to you may your intended purpose be made real here on earth, even as it is already done in heaven. Feed us today with those things that we truly need, and may we share our abundance with others. Forgive us when we get distracted, and may we forgive those who have done wrong to us just as you have pardoned us. In times of temptation may we keep our eyes on you, and keep us from all evil. Gracious God, this is your kingdom and we surrender ourselves to your glory, both now and forever more. AMEN.
ISAIAH 40:30-31
Even those who are young grow weak;
the young can fall exhausted.
But those who wait on the Lord for help
will find their strength renewed.
They will rise on wings like eagles;
they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.
Christ, the Light of the world, empower us to shine as lights in this dark world of sin.
Christ, lead us into good stewardship of creation that we and our children may preserve and enjoy the world entrusted to us.
Come Lord Jesus, come,
come and dwell within our hearts and lives.
We praise you, for you are good,
And your mercy endures forever. Amen.
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