Good morning.
Today is Monday,
December 21st,
2020.
Oh Lord,
Let my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to God,
The three in one,
Creator,
Redeemer,
And sustainer.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and will be forever.
Amen.
Come let us sing to the Lord.
Let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
Remind yourself that you're in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you today.
Let yourself dwell on any word or phrase that catches your attention and let your heart simply respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace.
Matthew 1 verses 18 through 23.
This is how the birth of Jesus came about.
When Jesus' mother Mary was engaged to Joseph,
But before they lived together,
She was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph,
Her husband,
An upright person unwilling to disgrace her,
Decided to divorce her quietly.
This was Joseph's intention.
When suddenly the angel of God appeared in a dream and said,
Joseph,
Heir to the house of David,
Don't be afraid to wed Mary.
It is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived this child.
She is to have a son and you are to name him Jesus.
Salvation,
Because he will save the people from their sins.
All this happened to fulfill what God said through the prophet.
The virgin will be with child and give birth and the child will be named Emmanuel,
A name that means God with us.
I invite you now to possibly hold someone's name before God.
And hold yourself before God as you hear these words of blessing.
This is written by Jan Richardson and it's called A Blessing for Traveling in the Dark.
A night with a band of stars.
Go slow if you can.
Slower,
More slowly still.
Friendly,
Dark,
Or fearsome.
This is no place to break your neck by rushing,
By running,
By crashing into what you cannot see.
Then again it is true,
Different darks have different tasks.
And if you have arrived here unawares,
If you have come in peril or in pain,
This might be no place you should dawdle.
I do not know what these shadows ask of you.
What they might hold that means you good or ill.
It is not for me to reckon whether you should linger or you should leave.
But this is what I can ask for you.
That in the darkness there be a blessing.
That in the shadows there be a welcome.
That in the night you be encompassed by the love that knows your name.
We pray in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray.
Our Father which art in heaven,
Eternal God,
Birthmaker,
Pain-bearer,
Life-giver,
Source of all that is and all that shall be.
Not only Father but Mother of us all.
May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe.
May the way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world.
May your heavenly will be done by all created beings.
May your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another forgive us.
In times of temptation and test strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love now and forever.
Amen.
Please repeat these words.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace.
And now my friends may the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you wherever he may send you today.
May he guide you through the wilderness,
Protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
Go in peace.
