“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
Almighty ever-living God,
as we see how the Nativity of your Son
according to the flesh draws near,
we pray that to us, your unworthy servants,
mercy may flow from your Word,
who chose to become flesh of the Virgin Mary
and establish among us his dwelling.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Daily Meditation:
Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
When Zechariah could say “John,” that is, “God is Gracious,“
he was freed to give thanks and praise to God.
Let’s each of us express our gratitude to our God
for coming to be with us, for forgiving our sins,
for saving us from the power of death.
Let’s ask that we might be purified of all self-love
that we might receive his coming to us this week.
But who will endure the day of his coming?
And who can stand when he appears?
For he is like the refiner’s fire,
or like the fuller’s lye. Mal. 3
Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
Intercessions:
To God our Father who sent his Son to save mankind:
Show us your mercy, Lord.
Father most merciful, we confess our faith in your Christ with our words,
- keep us from denying him in our actions.
You have sent your Son to rescue us,
- remove every sorrow from the face of the earth and from our country.
Our land looks forward with delight at the approach of your Son,
- let it experience the fullness of your joy.
Through your mercy make us live holy and chaste lives in this world,
-eagerly awaiting the blessed hope and coming of Christ in glory.
Closing Prayer:
Oh, God-With-Us,
For so long you have promised
forgiveness, peace, salvation.
Now in my heart, I am filled with joy
because of your coming.
Thank you for your promises
and for the way I can trust in you.
I feel a new freedom in my life
and a courage I have not known before.
I know you came to save me and bring new life
and I am so grateful to you.
Let me show my thankfulness
with my life.
You have brought me through the darkness
and into the light of your saving grace.
Guide my feet on the way of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.