http://bible.com/97/luk.2.13-14.msg
A Prayer for a Blessed Christmas
Almighty God, with a reverent heart, we give thanks, honor and praise to you for your great love in the gift of your Son. We pray for “A Blessed Christmas and New Year!” Gracious God with a grateful heart we receive your gift and share this gift of love. Help us to do your will, follow in your ways remembering your call to make, “Peace on earth, good will toward all.”In Your Holy Name I pray. Amen.
WAITING back stage. WATCHING televised show. SINGING on stage at Trinity Repertory Theatre. ADVENT! We Wait, Watch, and Share the story. He’s coming! The CHRIST CHILD comes again. He awakens our spirit! O Come, O Come Emmanuel, God with us.
When you sing you pray twice!
Let us sing and Park and Pray at 1:11
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, o Israel
O come, Thou Day-Spring
Come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, o Israel.
“Sometimes the sun, unkindly hot, My garden makes a desert spot, Sometimes a blight upon the tree Takes all my fruit away from me; And then with throes of bitter pain Rebellious passions rise and swell; And so I sing and all is well.” — Paul Laurence Dunbar.L
Almighty God,
Thank you for coming when my heart aches from my swelling desires, my heart feels pressed, distressed, burdened by inflated needs. But God, Thank you for answering prayers and blessing me. I will praise you in song, I will thank you in deed, and I will praise and thank you no matter what I need.
Wait! What do you see? A Star? Red, white, blue and green? A wooden Cross? A chandelier? Candlelights, sunlight and our reflections? A Choir of witnesses?
Yesterday, we prayed as we lit a candle for each state that experienced incidents of mass gun violence in 2018. We prayed for our nation and world.
Did you know that as of August 2018 there were 268 incidents of mass gun violence in the USA? https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/charts-and-maps
Imagine, our nation held numerous Prayer Vigils and devoted more than 275 days praying for peace, comfort and an end to Gun Violence. God hears our prayers. God is still speaking. Are we still listening?
Candlelights eventually fade yet, a prayer is like an endless flame. We are called to pray without ceasing.
What if we lit a candle daily?
Today is Advent, a time to wait, watch,
When you Park, and Pray at 1:11 pm try lighting a candle.
Light a candle, watch it, hold it and imagine you’re holding a prayer. Ask God to “give you this day your daily bread” in other words fulfill your needs.
Seek the Great Light of God and allow that light to enter those dark places in your life and the lives of others.
God of life, Light of the world,
God of Peace and Protection.
Your presence is profound,
Your work is beyond our imagination,
You do impossible things,
Your joy is our strength,
You fill us with Your grace,
You give us ways to conquer our fears,
You heal our brokenness.
You lead us out of our wilderness.
Help us to be a candlelight in the midst of darkness.
Help us to wait, watch and listen for you,
As we listen for your guidance.
Teach us to trust and obey
Guide our feet, O Lord,
Restrain the hands that harm us,
Arrest the wicked hearted,
Strengthen the weary ones, O God.
Transform cruel and misguided minds.
May Your light burn bright in our lives.
In Your Holy Name. Amen