Advent, Day Six

Advent, Day Six
Jesus didn't live alone. He had Peter, John, and James around him. There were the Twelve and the other disciples. They formed circles of intimacy around Jesus. We too need these circles of intimacy, but it;s a discipline. I choose L'Arche; L'Arche chooses me. I would be dead if I weren't here. I need people to love me and care for me.

Where are you getting your affection? Who's touching you? Who's holding you? Who makes you feel alive? Who says, "You are a beautiful person, you are the beloved of God, don't forget it"?
Henri J.M. Nouwen
Liguorian Magazine, October 1992

Scripture:
Ephesians 4:1-6

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First Presbyterian Church Advent - 2020

Prayer

 

A Prayer for Forgiveness

You are a God who gives grace and love to sinners. Which means You love me. Forgive me for times that I hurt You or others, intentionally or unintentionally. Forgive me for my words or actions that injured someone. 

Forgive my thoughts that were dark or evil. Forgive my attitude that didn’t honor You.  Forgive me, wash me clean, and help me start new. And then help me forgive others that have hurt me, intentionally or unintentionally.

I’m choosing today, God, to forgive them of their sins just as You forgive me of mine. Jesus, I’m choosing to pray and live out these words from scripture this Advent season:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. – Colossians 3:12-13

Help me to continue to forgive others. Every day. And please give me the courage to confess my sins to You. Every day. Because I know in that confession, I am forgiven and You set me free. And for that I am grateful. Amen.

Scripture

 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:26-38