2008, Christmas Eve, Luke 2:1-20

On Christmas, the text is from Luke, Chapter 2
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Dear Lord, may we have the joy and peace that the angels gave to the shepherds - and now, especially now, may we experience that peace that comes from Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, to carry us through each day as we live in God’s presence.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His strength and His great peace. In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
If you have a prayer request, you may email me at: peacewm@tds.net.

May the God of Peace, the Prince of Peace be with you now and always.

Week of December 21, 2008, Luke 1:26-38

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Luke, chapter 1, verses 26 to 38:
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.
32 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,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon 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.
36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
37 For nothing is impossible with God."
38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Heavenly Father, we praise You and give You thanks. As we grow and mature to understand You more fully, You take us by the hand, and move in our hearts – as You did Mary.

You greet us with joy and peace and love – and as You called forth Mary, You call us forth to walk with You, to acknowledge You as Lord and God, and You may even call us forth to do a specific task – one we might feel totally unprepared for. Remind us, Lord God, that when You call us, You give what we need, for nothing is impossible with You. We simply need to be obedient. May our response be, “Yes, Lord. Do what You will.”

Dear God, thank You for Mary. Help us to faithful and obedient, to be expectant and waiting this Advent season – to always know that You are Emmanuel – God with us – past, present, and future.

Thanks for Your presence with us, Your peace that surrounds us, Your love that astounds us – all of which we share with others. Thanks, Lord. Amen.


The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His strength and His great peace. In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may leave a message or prayer request by emailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.

May God, Emmanuel, our constant Companion and Comfort, be with you now and always.

Week of December 14, 2008 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 5, verses 16 to 24:
16 Be joyful always;
17 pray continually;
18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire;
20 do not treat prophecies with contempt.
21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.
22 Avoid every kind of evil.
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

Jesus, thanks for the gift of who You are to each of us. As Paul has reminded us, help each of us to be joyful – to know who You are, and who we are in You, Lord – are hope and our future with You, all of which gives us great joy. Help us to pray continually, to have a lifestyle of prayer – really, to be more conscious of Your presence with each of us at all times. Help us, Lord, to give thanks in all circumstances – whether good things or things we find that are troublesome and cause concern and turmoil. Help us, Lord, to give all of our issues to You, to trust in You, to have a profound confidence in You, for You are a great God, and You are faithful.

Lord, as John the Baptist announced that You would come baptizing with the Spirit and with fire, may the fire of Your Spirit grow in each of us, empower us to share the Good News of Your birth, empowering us to share Your love with others, and empowering us because of the presence of Your Spirit with us always.

And may You, Oh God, the God of peace, sanctify us through and through, keeping our whole spirit, soul and body blameless until the coming of Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Thanks for Your fire, Your joy, Your light in the world that dispels the darkness. Amen.

May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to Himself;
May the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in His service;
May the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls;
May the fire of the Holy Spirit bring comfort, guidance and fervency;
And may the blessing of the almighty and most merciful God - Creator, Word and eternal Holy Spirit - be upon us and remain with us always.
In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may leave a message or prayer request by emailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.

May God be with you now and always.

Week of December 7, 2008, Isaiah 40:1-11

One of the Scriptures for Sunday in this Advent season of preparation is from Isaiah, chapter 40, verses 1-11:
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
6 A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Dear Lord, You speak comfort through Your prophet, Isaiah. Help us, Lord, to prepare the way for You – in our hearts, to make a straight highway through the tumultuous wilderness of our lives, and come to You, to raise the valleys, to level the mountains – all to see Your glory revealed, to know Your presence in our lives. For Your mouth, O Lord, has spoken it – and even though grass and flowers wither and fade, Your Word stands forever.

Jesus, You tend Your flock like a shepherd – You gather the lambs in Your arms and carry them close to Your heart. Keep me close to You, Lord.

And in this season of preparation and expectancy, help me to focus my preparations on You. Help me to carve out times of reflection to spend with You. Help me to pray for others who are having tough times. Help me to bring the prophet’s comfort to others. All, Lord God, to see You and Your glory in this season. For You have rended the heavens – torn open the heavens – and come down – to humanity, to each of us.

Thanks for Your peace, comfort, joy, and Your presence with us. Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His strength and His great peace. In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may leave a message or prayer request by emailing me at: peacewm@tds.net

May God, our comfort and strength be with you now and always.