A Prayer for the New Year

Almighty Father:

As we reflect on the year that has passed, we recognize that there were times of both joy and of sorrow.  We rejoice in the new lives that came into the world and grieve those that came to an end; the jobs that were found and those that were lost; those individuals who commited their lives to You and those for whom we continue to pray.  We acknowledge that while we often failed to understand, You were present in all of these circumstances.

As we turn our sights to the new year, we pray for hearts willing to put Your will before our own; for eyes to see those who hurt; for hands and feet eager to take the good news into the world; and for the faith to put everything about which we care into Your hands.  Amen.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and pray to me and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
          Jeremiah 29:11-13

Christmas Eve Prayer

Loving God, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake.

Amen.


Robert Louis Stevenson

Halfway through Advent: Have I missed it?

Dear Jesus,

It's halfway through Advent and I'm not sure what happened. I really wanted to make this a reflective and calm season, preparing for your birth and pondering how you came into this world in such a stunningly humble way. But it's so busy and I'm distracted and sometimes even short-tempered with those I love the most. Where are you in THAT?

I am discouraged and wish I could start over. But as I sit here in the rare moment of silence, I contemplate your birth. In a bed of straw, with the smell of manure everywhere. It's a mess in that stable ... and come to think of it, my life is a little messy, too. I suddenly see that it is not just into the mess of the stable but into my mess that you enter the world. You came into a humble place and that humility is often where I live my life - feeling guilty or distracted and wishing I were a better person. But if I stop thinking of myself and focus on you, I realize that there you are, waiting to love me, even though I have so many unfulfilled good intentions about prayer, so many desires of how to change this fleeting Advent season.

I can begin Advent today and make this season deeper by making room in my heart for you. I can take just a moment before I get out of bed in the morning and feel the empty place in my life I so often fill with my busy-ness. It is there I need you the most. Come, Lord Jesus. Come into that dark and lonely spot in my heart. You know what my needs are more than I do. Let me feel your love. If I only carry that thought with me each day, it will prepare me for Christmas.

Thank you, Jesus. It's not too late. You are waiting to enter my life today, where ever I let you in. Help me to open my heart in these remaining days.

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/advent-prayers.html#Halfway

A Prayer of Confession for the Season of Advent

O promised Christ:

We are a world at war.
Our peace depends on your coming.

We are a sinful people.
Our pardon depends on your coming.

We are full of good intentions, but weak at keeping promises;

Our only hope of doing God's will
is that You should come and help us do it.

Lord Christ, Word made flesh
our world waits
for Your peace
for Your pardon
and for Your grace.

Even so: Come, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

http://www.sojournmusic.com/

Love is Here

God did not send His Light into the world in order to condemn it, but so that the world could be saved through it.  This Light is True Love; unchangeable, unwavering Love. A Love offered freely by He who is worthy to everyone who is not. Those who accept this Love no longer hunger or thirst; are no longer alone or in despair.  For from that moment on, nothing can separate them from that Love.

Love is Here 


Come to the waters, you who thirst and you'll thirst no more.
Come to the Father, you who work and you'll work no more.
And all you who labor in vain and to the broken and shamed:


Love is here.
Love is now.
Love is pouring from His hands, from His brows.
Love is near, it satisfies.
Streams of mercy flowing from His side.


Come to the treasure, you who search and you'll search no more.
Come to the lover you who want and you'll want no more, no.
And all you who labor in vain to the broken and shamed,
Love is here.
Love is now.
Love is pouring from His hands, from His brows.
Love is near, it satisfies.
Streams of mercy flowing from His side.

And to the bruised and fallen.
Captives, bound, and broken hearted.
He is the Lord,
He is the Lord.
By His stripes He's paid our ransom
From His wounds we drink salvation.
He is the Lord,
He is the Lord.

Love is here.
Love is now.
Love is pouring from
His hands, from His brows.
Love is near, it satisfies.
Streams of mercy flowing from His side.

Songwriters: Donehey, Michael; Ingram, Jason David; Jamison, Jason; Larue, Phillip; Middleton, Drew