First Sunday after Christmas
December 31, 2023
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Psalm 148
Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52
Eternal God, as we come to a new year and ponder the meaning of time, we pray that you would be with us as we are about the sober task of numbering our days. As we do so may we gain a heart of wisdom. As we reflect upon all of the endless possibilities of creation we are overwhelmed that you gently called each one of us into being.
That we were a thought to you before our birth, that you gave us a name, that you made us all in our own uniqueness when you could have fashioned someone else, to us this is a mystery. We thank you for your creative love which made us and for your redeeming love which makes us whole. We thank you for those moments in our developmental lives when our parents brought us faithfully to be in the worshipping community even as Jesus was brought to and was found in the Temple. Hear our requests today.
Help us to receive each new day as a gift and not as a burden.
Help us to see every day as an opportunity to be seized.
Give us courage when we would find it easier to cower.
Give us mountains to climb when we would rather dwell in the valleys.
Forbid that the difficulty of living well and doing your will should ever foster in us despair.
Instead give us power even in our weakness to overcome.
We bring before you all of the special needs in our community: those recovering from illness or affliction; those recovering from surgery; those whose lives know the shadow of death; those who mentally are gradually leaving their loved ones due to Alzheimer’s disease; those who know the darkness of depression. Touch each with your grace. Touch our war-weary world and be especially with those who have been devastated by the consequences of war. Bring peace and recovery to the nations and a will to live in harmony. Amen
December 31, 2023
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Psalm 148
Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52
Eternal God, as we come to a new year and ponder the meaning of time, we pray that you would be with us as we are about the sober task of numbering our days. As we do so may we gain a heart of wisdom. As we reflect upon all of the endless possibilities of creation we are overwhelmed that you gently called each one of us into being.
That we were a thought to you before our birth, that you gave us a name, that you made us all in our own uniqueness when you could have fashioned someone else, to us this is a mystery. We thank you for your creative love which made us and for your redeeming love which makes us whole. We thank you for those moments in our developmental lives when our parents brought us faithfully to be in the worshipping community even as Jesus was brought to and was found in the Temple. Hear our requests today.
Help us to receive each new day as a gift and not as a burden.
Help us to see every day as an opportunity to be seized.
Give us courage when we would find it easier to cower.
Give us mountains to climb when we would rather dwell in the valleys.
Forbid that the difficulty of living well and doing your will should ever foster in us despair.
Instead give us power even in our weakness to overcome.
We bring before you all of the special needs in our community: those recovering from illness or affliction; those recovering from surgery; those whose lives know the shadow of death; those who mentally are gradually leaving their loved ones due to Alzheimer’s disease; those who know the darkness of depression. Touch each with your grace. Touch our war-weary world and be especially with those who have been devastated by the consequences of war. Bring peace and recovery to the nations and a will to live in harmony. Amen