“O love beyond all telling, that led you to embrace, in love all loves excelling, our lost and fallen race…”
—-Paul Gerhardt, 1653 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Isaiah 12:5 Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Prayer Wild Goose Worship Group, Iona Community, 2000 Into our world as into Mary’s womb… Come, Lord Jesus. Into the forgotten places, as into the stable… Come, Lord Jesus. Into the lives of the poor, bringing hope; into the lives of the powerful, bringing caution; into the lives of the weary, bringing rest; into the lives of the wise, bringing restlessness; and into our lives and longings, whatever our estate… Come, Lord Jesus. This is the good news: Christ is coming, and blessed are those who wait on the Lord. Therefore come quickly, Lord. Amen. Hymn of the Day The Wexford Carol, by Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day James 5:7-11 7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, for Denie and her husband; for Cindy and Eddye Stelchek; for Susan Smith’s brother-in-law John, who is still hospitalized with the virus after five weeks, and for Susan’s sister, who can’t visit him, for Delphine Zarsky’s niece’s family; for Becky’s friend Vanessa, whose husband died from the virus; and for Gloria Thomas’s granddaughter Lauren and her friend Seth— both diagnosed positive. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for a revival of energy and commitment in all of us, to be patient and persistent in our good behavior during this pandemic. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May the God of peace make you holy and the power of the Spirit sustain you until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
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“Love caused Your incarnation, love brought You down to me…”
—-Paul Gerhardt, 1653 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Philippians 4:4-5 Rejoice in the Lord; again, rejoice! Be gentle to all: the Lord is near. Prayer Book of Common Worship, PC(USA), 2018 Almighty God, you have made us and all things to serve you. Now prepare the world for your rule. Come quickly to save us, so that wars and violence shall end, and your children may live in peace, honoring one another with justice and love; through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Hymn of the Day Away in a Manger (Once in Royal David’s City), by Eric Clapton. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Isaiah 12:1-6 1 You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me. 2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. 6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, for Denie and her husband; for Cindy and Eddye Stelchek; for Susan Smith’s brother-in-law John, who is still hospitalized with the virus after four weeks, and for Susan’s sister, who can’t visit him, for Delphine Zarsky’s niece’s family; for Becky’s friend Vanessa, whose husband died from the virus; and for Gloria Thomas’s granddaughter Lauren and her friend Seth— both diagnosed positive. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for Spring Branch students, increasingly anxious to gather with groups of friends, that they would make good decisions. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May the God of peace make you holy and the power of the Spirit sustain you until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia! “Your people long to greet You, my hope, my heart’s delight!”
—-Paul Gerhardt, 1653 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; God sends good news to the oppressed. Prayer Christine Sine, 2012 The coming of our Lord is near, And we wait in joyful expectation, Draw close, Lord Jesus Christ, Shed your light on all that is filled with darkness. The coming of our Lord is near, And we wait with hope filled hearts, Draw close, God’s beloved son, Teach us the wonder of your all embracing love. Hymn of the Day Night of Silence, sung by the Vancouver Children’s Choir. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Zephaniah 3:14-20 14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. 17 The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing 18 as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. 19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. 20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day; for Denie and her husband; for Cindy and Eddye Stelchek; for Susan Smith’s brother-in-law John, who is still hospitalized with the virus after four weeks, and for Susan’s sister, who can’t visit him; for Delphine Zarsky’s niece’s family; for Becky’s friend Vanessa, whose husband died from the virus; and for Gloria Thomas' granddaughter Lauren and her friend Seth-- both tested positive. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for the safe and quick delivery of the vaccine to the hospitals. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May the God of peace make you holy and the power of the Spirit sustain you until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia! “O Lord, how shall I meet You, how welcome You aright?”
—-Paul Gerhardt, 1653 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Luke 1:46-47 My soul magnifies the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Prayer Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-1274) Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downward; give me an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give me an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow on me also, O Lord my God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Hymn of the Day Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Christmas Canon. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Isaiah 61:1-4 1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, for Denie and her husband; for Cindy and Eddye Stelchek; for Susan Smith’s brother-in-law John, who is still hospitalized with the virus after four weeks, and for Susan’s sister, who can’t visit him, for Delphine Zarsky’s niece’s family; and for Becky’s friend Vanessa, whose husband died from the virus. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for the Alabama Coushatta Reservation, and for the Presbyterian church there; the community has been especially hard hit, including the church’s pastor and her daughter and her daughter’s whole family. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May the God of peace make you holy and the power of the Spirit sustain you until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia! “Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King…”
—-Charles Wesley, 1744 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Psalm 95:1 Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. Prayer Blair Gilmer Meeks, 2005 God of peace, when your Son Jesus was born of Mary, tyrants ruled, and the people were afraid. But you love justice; you bring your peace in the midst of great trouble and strife. Free us from fear; bring us to your joy. Hear our prayers and accept our thanksgiving. Make us ready for the coming of Christ Jesus, our Lord, in whose name we pray. Hymn of the Day Silent Night/7 O’ Clock News, by Simon and Garfunkel. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Matthew 1: 1-17 1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, 4 and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, for Becky’s sister’s coworker Denie and her husband; for Cindy and Eddye Stelchek; for Susan Smith’s brother-in-law John, who is still hospitalized with the virus after four weeks, and for Susan’s sister, who can’t visit him; for Delphine Zarsky’s niece’s family; for the Meyers family, six of whom are positive and one of whom is hospitalzed; for a colleague in the Presbytery. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for doctors treating COVID patients here in Houston, as the numbers surge again. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May starlight guide your steps towards this place of wonder May angels sing their news as you travel to the manger May promise fill these days as we watch at the edge of birth and may faith tell you, Emmanuel will be with us soon, in human skin. Amen. “…dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.”
—-Charles Wesley, 1744 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Psalm 85:10-11 Love and faithfulness will meet; justice and peace will embrace. Faithfulness will spring from the earth and justice will look down from heaven. Prayer Bible Claret, Liturgy Alive, 2020 Our saving God, long ago you sent your Son Jesus among us, but we have been little aware of his presence and we hide him even from others. Wake us up, make us recognize him, that he may be the light of our lives and that eagerly we may lead people to him. May he build up among us and with us a world and a kingdom of peace and love where we serve you in one another, as we move forward in hope to your home of endless joy and rest. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Hymn of the Day Do You Hear What I Hear, sung by the Roches. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Philippians 1:3-11 3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4 constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5 because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10 to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, for Becky’s sister’s coworker Denie and her husband; for Cindy and Eddye Stelchek; for Susan Smith’s brother-in-law John, who is still hospitalized with the virus after four weeks, and for Susan’s sister, who can’t visit him; for Delphine Zarsky's niece's family; for the Meyers family, six of whom are positive with one in the hospital; for a colleague in the Presbytery. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for COVID patients in other hard hit countries— Belize, Serbia, and Croatia. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May starlight guide your steps towards this place of wonder May angels sing their news as you travel to the manger May promise fill these days as we watch at the edge of birth and may faith tell you, Emmanuel will be with us soon, in human skin. Amen. “Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art…”
—-Charles Wesley, 1744 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Luke 1:68-69 Blessed is the Holy One our God, who has sent a mighty Savior to redeem us. Prayer Book of Common Worship, PC(USA), 2018 God of all wisdom, our hearts yearn for the warmth of your love, and our minds search for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Savior, and strengthen us to grow in love, that at the dawn of his coming we may rejoice in his presence and welcome the light of his truth. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Hymn of the Day Go Tell it on the Mountain, sung by the Sensational Nightingales. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day 2 Peter 3: 8-13 8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. 11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, for Becky’s sister’s coworker Denie and her husband; for Cindy and Eddye Stelchek; for Susan Smith’s brother-in-law John, who is still hospitalized with the virus after four weeks, and for Susan’s sister, who can’t visit him; for Delphine Zarsky's niece's family; for the Meyers family, six of whom are positive with one in the hospital; for a colleague in the Presbytery. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for small business owners, that their businesses would thrive during this holiday season. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May starlight guide your steps towards this place of wonder May angels sing their news as you travel to the manger May promise fill these days as we watch at the edge of birth and may faith tell you, Emmanuel will be with us soon, in human skin. Amen. “…from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in Thee.”
—-Charles Wesley, 1744 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences 2 Peter 3:13 God has promised us a new creation where righteousness will be at home. Prayer Feasting on the Word, WJK Press, 2012 Blessed are you, Lord God: for you have smiled on us this day and redeemed us from our sin. Give light to all who wait in darkness until we rest with you in perfect peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Hymn of the Day The Peace Carol, by John Denver and the Muppets. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Malachi 3:1-4 1 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, for Becky’s sister’s coworker Denie and her husband; for Cindy and Eddye Stelchek; for Susan Smith’s brother-in-law John, who is still hospitalized with the virus after four weeks, and for Susan’s sister, who can’t visit him, and for Delphine Zarsky's niece's family. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for the “long haulers,”— those for whom the virus causes extremely long lasting illness. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May starlight guide your steps towards this place of wonder May angels sing their news as you travel to the manger May promise fill these days as we watch at the edge of birth and may faith tell you, Emmanuel will be with us soon, in human skin. Amen. “Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free…”
—-Charles Wesley, 1744 Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Matthew 3:3 A voice cries out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord! Prayer Walter Brueggemann, Abingdon Press, 2008 You are the God who has set us in families and clans and tribes, in communities and finally in cities. We give you thanks this day that you are Lord of this city and all cities. We pray for this city today, and for Jerusalem and Baghdad and Belfast and a thousand other cities. In all our cities this day there will be crime and sharp moneymaking and compassion and forgiveness, and generosity, and regulations about justice and injustice. Be our God this day, and prosper our city. We pray in the name of the one who wept over the city. Hymn of the Day Shalom, by Dan Forrest, performed by the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas and the Bentonville High School Chamber Choir. Listen and Pray. Reading of the Day Isaiah 11:1-10 1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 6 The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious. Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, for Becky’s sister’s coworker Denie and her husband; for Cindy and Eddye Stelchek; for Susan Smith’s brother-in-law John, who is still hospitalized with the virus. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for the families of the 282,000 people who have died of this virus. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May starlight guide your steps towards this place of wonder May angels sing their news as you travel to the manger May promise fill these days as we watch at the edge of birth and may faith tell you, Emmanuel will be with us soon, in human skin. Amen. “…bid envy, strife, and discord cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.”
—-Latin, 12th C. Preparation for worship Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit. Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship… Opening Sentences Psalm 4:8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. Prayer Gelasian Sacramentary, 8th C. O God, you make us glad with the yearly expectation of the birthday of Christ, your only Son. Grant that we, who hail him with joy as our Redeemer, may also behold him without fear when he comes to be our Judge; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Hymn of the Day Silent Night, sung by Willie Nelson. Listen and pray. Reading of the Day Isaiah 43: 1-7 1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. 5 Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; 6 I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth-- 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Prayers for self and others Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world. Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, for Becky’s sister’s coworker Denie, who has returned to the ICU at Memorial Hermann Hospital with the virus; for Susan Smith’s brother-in-law John, hospitalized with the virus. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for all those who are sick and unable to afford health care. Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God. Benediction May the love of the Father enfold us, the wisdom of the Son enlighten us, the fire of the Spirit inflame us; and may the blessing of the triune God rest on us, and abide with us, now and evermore. |
AuthorBecky Downs, pastor of John Knox, started writing daily prayers for the congregation at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, to encourage the congregation in their faith during their time of separation from each other. The daily prayers were posted throughout the year. You might want to choose one a day to read, and modify the specific prayers for self and others to fit your life today. Archives
April 2021
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