Good morning.
Today is Friday,
December 18,
2020.
O Lord,
That 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.
Simply notice how is God speaking to you today.
Let yourself ponder any word or phrase that catches your attention or moves your heart.
And let your heart simply respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Whom shall I fear?
Our scripture today is Luke 1 verses 57 through 66.
When the time came for Elizabeth to deliver,
She gave birth to a son.
When her neighbors and relatives heard that God had been merciful to her,
They shared her joy.
When all had assembled for the circumcision on the eighth day,
They intended to name the baby after his father,
Zachariah.
But his mother spoke up.
No,
He is to be called John.
They pointed out to her,
But no one in your family has this name.
Then they made signs to the father to find out what he wanted the child to be named.
The father asked for a writing tablet and wrote,
His name is John.
They were all astonished.
Immediately Zachariah's mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed.
And he began to speak in praise of God.
Their neighbors were filled with awe and throughout the hill country of Judea,
People were talking about these events.
All who heard the news stored it in their hearts and said,
What will this child turn out to be?
For God's hand was with him.
Please repeat these words.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Whom shall I fear?
God,
Our savior,
You write us into your story.
Daily surprising us by showing up in our ordinary lives.
Making our moments holy.
The divine in the middle of the mundane.
Engaging us in your holy work.
May we see what you are up to and join you there.
Because our truest life stories are found in your love.
Amen.
I invite you now in a moment of silence to hold someone's name before God.
Bless all who call on you Almighty God from the rising of the sun to its setting.
From your goodness and riches.
By your love inspire us by your spirit guide us.
By your power protect us.
In your mercy receive us now and always.
We pray in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray.
Our Father which art in heaven.
Eternal God,
Earth maker,
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.
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.
May his grace go in peace.
