Tag: Universalis

3rd Day of Christmas: Thu, 27 Dec – Jeremiah 31:31-34 ~ a new covenant

3rd Day of Christmas

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – Psalm 62:5-8 (NLT)

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.

O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.
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Morning Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NLT) –

“The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
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Morning Prayer

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid –

+ Write your Word on our hearts that we might not sin against you, or our neighbor…
+ Adopt us into your family under the new covenant through your Word made flesh, Jesus Christ…
+ Fill us with your Spirit that we may boldly declare that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord of all…

Almighty God: You are our hope, and our rock; we wait quietly for the return of your Son, Jesus Christ, when your glory will be revealed for all to see. In him we place our faith and trust – who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.
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“An Everlasting Love” – Songs for the Masses


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Blessing – Titus 2:11-13 (NLT)

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2nd Day of Christmas: Wed, 26 Dec – Isaiah 9:2-7 ~ For a child is born to us!

2nd Day of Christmas

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – Isaiah 50:10 (NLT)

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God.
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Morning Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7 –

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
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Morning Prayer

Come Lord Jesus: Shine your light in the deep darkness of our world –

+ Break our bondage to sin and death…
+ Lighten the load of the poor and oppressed…
+ Restore the peace and tranquility of the godly…
+ Rule with fairness and justice over our leaders…

Light of the world: Live with us, rule and reign in our hearts, that we might enter into your joy and proclaim the wonders of your love to every tribe and nation, all to the glory of God – Father, Son, and Spirit. Amen.
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“Unto Us” – Aaron Shust

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Blessing – Titus 2:11-13 (NLT)

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Christmas Day: 25 Dec – Luke 2:15-20 ~ treasure and think about these things

Christmas Day

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Good and gracious God, on this holy day You gave us Your Son, the Lord of the universe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, the Savior of all, lying in a manger. On this holy day draw us into the mystery of Your love. Join our voices with the heavenly host, that we may sing Your glory on high. Give us a place among the shepherds, that we may find the One for whom we have waited, Jesus Christ, Your Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in the splendour of eternal light, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“O Come let us adore Him” – Hillsong


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Reading: Luke 2:15-20 (NLT)

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
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Intercessory Prayer

Friends in Christ, let us join together to ask God to fill the whole world with His Light. We pray especially –

+ For all who celebrate the birth of Christ around the world, that He may bring new, refreshing, Light into our lives….
+ For all whose lives are darkened by war and violence, that the peace and goodwill proclaimed by the angels come quickly….
+ For all families and children who are destitute, that we may respond generously with help and hope….
+ For all who are lost and lonely, that we may find them and comfort them with the Good News – “God with them” has come….
+ For all who are sick and dying, that we may bring healing and the Good News of eternal life….
+ For our neighbors and families, that Christ may receive a warm welcome among us….
+ For all who have died in Christ, especially since last Christmas, that the peace and joy of heaven may be theirs…..

Maker of heaven and earth, Your Son is born for us, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God: hear our prayers through Christ, our Lord, Amen.
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“Born is the King” – Hillsong


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Blessing – Titus 2:11-13

The grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people; therefore let us turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. Live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God – looking forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
__________

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

1 Day until Christmas: Mon, 24 Dec – Galatians 4:4-5 ~ when the right time came

1 Day until Christmas

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening –

Today you know that the Lord will come. In the morning you will see his glory.
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Morning Reading: Galatians 4:4-5 (NLT) –

When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
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Morning Prayer

Coming into our world, Lord Jesus, you opened the new age which the prophets foretold. You took on our human weakness and lived among us in humility. Save us now through your life, death, and resurrection, that we might live with joyful confidence, as we await the fulfillment of our redemption when you return in glory. Amen.
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“Of the Father’s Love Begotten” – from Out of Darkness (Adam & Lori Ubowski)

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Closing –

The Word of God, born of the Father before time began, humbled himself today for us and became man.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

3 Days until Christmas: Sat, 22 Dec – Isaiah 45:8 ~ Rain down!

3 Days until Christmas

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening –

“Let it be known that God has also sent his salvation to all nations,
and they will listen!” (Acts 28:28)

O God, be gracious and bless us and let your face shed its light upon us. So will your ways be known upon the earth and all nations learn of your saving help.
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Morning Reading: Isaiah 45:8 (NLT) –

“Open up, O heavens, and pour out your righteousness. Let the earth open wide so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together. I, the Lord, created them.”
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Morning Prayer

In a world divided by fear and hatred, Lord Jesus, come to us in love.  Help us to set our hearts on you, as we proclaim your saving power. May our world be flooded with the grace of your coming, and may we experience the fullness of your joy. All to your glory. Amen.
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“There Is A Cloud” – Elevation Worship

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Blessing –

God our Father, may all nations and peoples praise you. May Jesus, who is called faithful and true and who lives with you eternally, possess our hearts for ever. Amen.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.