Advent, Day Eight

Advent, Day Eight

If you would ask the Desert Fathers why solitude gives birth to compassion, they would say, "Because it makes us die to our neighbors." At first this answer seems quite disturbing to a modern mind. But when we give it a closer look we can see that in order to be of service to others we have to die to them; that is, we have to give up measuring our meaning and value with the yardstick of others. To die to our neighbors means to stop judging them, to stop evaluating them, and thus to become free to be compassionate. Compassion can never coexist with judgement because judgement creates the distance, the distinction, which prevents us from really being with the other.
Henri J.M. Nouwen
The Way of the Heart: Desert Spirituality and Contemporary Ministry, pg16

Scripture:
³⁷ “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:37-38

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Book of Common Prayer

The Collect.

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.  

WHATSOEVER things were written afore time were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers : and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; In him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.    Romans 15:4-

AND, there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Be hold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So like wise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. Luke 21:25-

 

First Presbyterian Church Advent - 2020

Prayer

 A Prayer to Spend Less

God of everything I need.

Thank you for being my provider. Thank You for all of the ways that You sustain me. Thank You for the food on my table and on my shelves. Thank You for the shelter over my head. Thank You for places to sit and recline. Thank You for the place I have to rest my head. Thank You for the friends and family around me.

Help me to rest and be content. As I move through my world today, help me to be content. Remind me of all the ways You provide for me and my family. Help me to keep my eyes focused on You, the God who provides, not on my material possessions.

Keep me from straying to the idol of ‘more’. Forgive me for the times where I have turned to my things instead of You. You alone are my salvation and my joy. You alone are my peace. Forgive me for the times I’ve made an idol out of the blessings You have given me. You are enough for me.

Help me to spend less. As I plan for Christmas, help me to keep a careful eye on the things I buy, for myself and for others. Help me to scale back on material things and to invest in the relationships around me. Help me to be thoughtful in my giving.
May the way I spend my resources reflect Your goodness.

Help me to invest in relationships, and not just things. Help me to be able to smile in January because of the way I spent less. Thank You for showing me how. Thank You for modeling what it means to give Yourself sacrificially to those around you. Thank You for giving Yourself for me. Thank You for the gift of salvation.

Scripture

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 1:22-25

 

Advent, Day Seven

Advent, Day Seven
The two main enemies of the spiritual life [are] anger and greed. They are the inner side of a secular life, the sour fruits of our worldly dependencies. What else is anger than the impulsive response to the experience of being deprived? When my sense of self depends on what others say of me, anger is a quite naturural reaction to a critical word. And when my sense of self depends on what I can acquire, greed flares up when my desires are frustrated. Thus greed and anger are the brother and sister of a false self fabricated by the social compulsions of an unreedeemed world...

It is not so strange that Anthony (d. 356 A.D., Father of Western Monasticism) and his fellow monks considered it a spiritual disaster to accept passively the tenets and values of their society. They had come to appreciate how hard it is not only for the individual Christian but also for the Church itself to escape the seductive compulsions of the world.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
The Way of the Heart: Desert Spirtuality and Contemporary Ministry, pg 23-24

Scripture:
 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.    Romans 12:1-2

First Presbyterian Church Advent - 2020

Prayer

A Prayer When You're Decorating for Christmas

O God, my heart swells with anticipation of the season to come. Christmas is a season of hope. Our hope rests in Your faithfulness, God. You will continue Your work in and through us. Christmas is a season of celebration. 

We celebrate that You kept Your promise to the generations And sent Your son to make a way for us. Christmas is a season of joy. Our joy cannot be contained, because You are Emmanuel, God with us. With all there is to look forward to, today, may we slow down. 

May we thoughtfully prepare our home and our hearts to reflect this season. As we work to create warmth and beauty in this place We praise You for the magnificent creation You’ve given us in nature. May the evergreen trimmings remind us of Your unceasing faithfulness. 

We thank You that You are unchanging, yesterday, today, and forever. May the red accents remind us the way You made, cost a great sacrifice. We worship You, God for sending Jesus, fully God and fully man To pay the price for our sins on the cross. 

May the twinkling lights that shine remind us that You are the light of the world. You were born under the light of a bright star and still today You continue to push back darkness around us. 

We thank You, Emmanuel, for guiding us through this season and blessing us with these gifts. May we lavishly bless others as our hearts and home are prepared for this joyous season. Amen.

 Scripture

 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:18-21 

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

 

Advent, Day Five

Advent, Day Five
If you want to follow Jesus...[you must] control what you take in every day. When you are on the bus or subway, or in your car, why busy your mind with all the garbage of advertisements? Why fill your mind with television and radio? Somehow you have to decide what your mind will recieve. I don't mean you shouldn't ever go to movies or watch television, but control what enters your mind and heart. It's not just a question of pushing bad things out but a question of holding on to something really good.

It is good to have a prayer on your lips when you are free to pray. When you are waiting for the cashier in the supermarket, getting mad because he or she doesn't hurry, say a little prayer: "Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me." Take that prayer with you wherever you go.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
Liguorian Magazine, October 1992

Scripture:
¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.    1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

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First Presbyterian Church Advent - 2020

Prayer

 

A Prayer for a Quiet Morning at Home

Heavenly Father,

Draw close to my heart. In all that I do today, help me to be motivated by Your love and grace. In the stillness of my morning, I will fix my gaze on You and You alone. 

No matter what is on my to-do list or what today holds, I will be still in this moment and trust in You. Be my champion and my advocate. Give me energy and enthusiasm to face the day. 

Help me to trust in Your sovereign plans. I don’t need to know the whole path, Lord. Just give me wisdom to know what the next step is that You are calling me to take. Amen.

Let the dawning day bring me revelation of your tender, unfailing love. Give me light for my path and teach me, for I trust in you. Save me from all my enemies, for I hide myself in you. I just want to obey all you ask of me. So teach me, Lord, for you are my God. Your gracious Spirit is all I need, 

so lead me on good paths that are pleasing to you, my one and only God! - Psalm 143:8-10

Scripture

 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Luke 1:18-25

Advent, Day Four

Advent, Day Four
Take the gospel of each day and spend ten minutes with it. Read it, and read it again. Walk into the world with the gospel in your heart. The gospel word of the day can become like a painting on the walls of your inner room, the inner room that is your heart... You have chances every second to live this Word, but it had to be in you. It can't be just an idea, it has to sink from the mind into the heart. That's prayer--to let God's Word speak deep within you and tell you, "You are my beloved."

Henri J.M. Nouwen Interview
Liguorian Magazine,October 1992

Scripture:
²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.      Matthew 6:25, 32-33

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First Presbyterian Church Advent - 2020

Prayer

 
A Prayer for the Heartbroken

Merciful Father,

You have always heard the cries of Your children, and our heartbreak has always been Yours, as well.

Today I ask for you to comfort me. I am hurting, exhausted, grieving. Draw close to my brokenheartedness, with the fullness of Your presence and love.
Grant me hope for the path forward even as You tend to the wounds of my heart. Bless me with a community of kindness, friends who are attentive to my needs and longings, who listen well and remind me of Your faithfulness.
I cannot walk alone in this hour of need. Shower me with Your compassion and mercy, Your tenderness and wisdom, Your steadfast love.

And with this love You can bring beauty out of ashes, hope out of despair.
Father, only You can heal the hearts of Your children who are hurting
with Your love that has overcome the grave.

Amen.

Scripture

 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him:“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Luke 1:11-17

Advent, Day Three

Advent, Day Three
Somewhere we know that without a lonely place our lives are in danger. Somewhat we know that without silence words lose their meaning, that without listening speaking no longer heals, without distance closeness cannot cure. Somewhere we know that without a lonely place our actions quickly become empty gestures. The careful balance between silence and words, withdrawal and involvement, distance and closeness, solitude and community forms the basis of the Christian life and should therefore be the subjects of our most personal attention. Let us therefore look somewhat closer, first at our life in action and at our life in solitude.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life, pg14-15

Scripture:
³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” ³⁹ So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.   Mark 1:35-39

First Presbyterian Church Advent - 2020

Prayer

 
A Prayer for Your Local Church

Jesus, Thank You for your work within the Church. Thank You that despite our human failures and shortcomings, You still use your Church to bring about Your purposes in the world. And You do this through local congregations and churches.

So, my faithful King, draw near to the leaders and pastors of my local body. Right now, help them sense Your presence and peace. Grant them the strength, energy, and courage necessary to lead Your people well. Send Your Holy Spirit to guide them and give them supernatural wisdom and insight. Keep the Evil One away because he hates the great work You’re doing through these men and women. And show me what it looks like to participate in that work, too.

As Your church, let us live as Your ambassadors, carrying out the ministry of reconciliation that You have entrusted to us.

Help us become One unified body, modeling the love on display within the Trinity. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, allow us to shine like a city on a hill,
reflecting Your light in this dark world.

You are this world’s last hope.

Amen.

Scripture

 In the time of Herod king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.  Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
Luke 1:5-10

Advent, Day Two

Advent, Day Two
The French author Simone Weil writes in her notebook: "Waiting patiently in expectation is the foundation of the spiritual life." Without patience our expectation degenerates into wishful thinking. Patience comes from the word :patior" which means "to suffer." ... What seems a hindrance becomes a way; what seems an obstacle becomes a door; what seems a misfit becomes a cornerstone.


Henri J.M. Nouwen
Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life, pg 55

Scripture:
⁹ Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. ¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. ¹¹ We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.    
Hebrews 6:9-12

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First Presbyterian Church Advent - 2020

Prayer

 

A Prayer for Your Neighborhood

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for placing me here. I know You’ve planted me in this neighborhood for a reason. Thank You for the people that live here, people I know You love and care about. Men, women, and children created in Your image.

I pray blessings over the families in my neighborhood. I pray for marriages to be strengthened. For patience between parents and their children. Please help them to understand each other’s perspectives, to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

I also pray for the relationships between neighbors. May we all learn and appreciate each other’s differences and find common ground with each other.

Help us, Jesus, to listen to each other really well. I pray there would be a spirit of hospitality where people invite one another into their homes.

Lord, I pray that I would be that kind of neighbor too. As a follower of Jesus, help me to take the first step.

Help me to love my neighbors well and to be the one who points them to how great and awesome You are. Lord, most of all I pray that my neighbors would come to know You in a personal way. That they would come to understand and know and be undone by your grace and mercy. Amen!

"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."  Romans 15:7

Scripture

 The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.
Jeremiah 33:14-16