Advent Day 13

Posted on: December 8, 2023

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8

PRAYER OF PEACE
Though you shared your light with us, we preferred to walk in darkness. So yet again, you brought light into our world, this time in the form of your own son Jesus Christ, who took on flesh and came to earth to dispel the darkness of sin and reconcile us to you. We lift grateful hearts in praise for such a Savior.

SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 2:8–14

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Posted in: Advent Readings

Advent Day 12

Posted on: December 7, 2023

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7

PRAYER OF PEACE
Though you shared your light with us, we preferred to walk in darkness. So yet again, you brought light into our world, this time in the form of your own son Jesus Christ, who took on flesh and came to earth to dispel the darkness of sin and reconcile us to you. We lift grateful hearts in praise for such a Savior.

SCRIPTURE READING
Micah 5:2–5

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

from ancient days.

Therefore he shall give them up until the time

when she who is in labor has given birth;

then the rest of his brothers shall return

to the people of Israel.

And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,

in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great

to the ends of the earth.

And he shall be their peace.

When the Assyrian comes into our land

and treads in our palaces,

then we will raise against him seven shepherds

and eight princes of men.

Posted in: Advent Readings

Advent Day 11

Posted on: December 6, 2023

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6

PRAYER OF PEACE
Though you shared your light with us, we preferred to walk in darkness. So yet again, you brought light into our world, this time in the form of your own son Jesus Christ, who took on flesh and came to earth to dispel the darkness of sin and reconcile us to you. We lift grateful hearts in praise for such a Savior.

SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 59:14–20

Justice is turned back,

and righteousness stands far away;

for truth has stumbled in the public squares,

and uprightness cannot enter.

Truth is lacking,

and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

The LORD saw it, and it displeased him

that there was no justice.

He saw that there was no man,

and wondered that there was no one to intercede;

then his own arm brought him salvation,

and his righteousness upheld him.

He put on righteousness as a breastplate,

and a helmet of salvation on his head;

he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,

and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

According to their deeds, so will he repay,

wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;

to the coastlands he will render repayment.

So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west,

and his glory from the rising of the sun;

for he will come like a rushing stream,

which the wind of the LORD drives.

“And a Redeemer will come to Zion,

to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.

Posted in: Advent Readings

Advent Day 10

Posted on: December 5, 2023

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5

PRAYER OF PEACE
Though you shared your light with us, we preferred to walk in darkness. So yet again, you brought light into our world, this time in the form of your own son Jesus Christ, who took on flesh and came to earth to dispel the darkness of sin and reconcile us to you. We lift grateful hearts in praise for such a Savior.

SCRIPTURE READING
1 John 2:7–8

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

Posted in: Advent Readings

Advent Day 9

Posted on: December 4, 2023

MONDAY, DECEMBER 4

PRAYER OF PEACE
Though you shared your light with us, we preferred to walk in darkness. So yet again, you brought light into our world, this time in the form of your own son Jesus Christ, who took on flesh and came to earth to dispel the darkness of sin and reconcile us to you. We lift grateful hearts in praise for such a Savior.

SCRIPTURE READING
Psalm 130:5–6

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,

and in his word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord

more than watchmen for the morning,

more than watchmen for the morning.

Posted in: Advent Readings

Advent Day 8

Posted on: December 3, 2023

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3

PRAYER OF PEACE
Though you shared your light with us, we preferred to walk in darkness. So yet again, you brought light into our world, this time in the form of your own son Jesus Christ, who took on flesh and came to earth to dispel the darkness of sin and reconcile us to you. We lift grateful hearts in praise for such a Savior.

SCRIPTURE READING
Micah 7:8–9

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;

when I fall, I shall rise;

when I sit in darkness,

the LORD will be a light to me.

I will bear the indignation of the LORD

because I have sinned against him,

until he pleads my cause

and executes judgment for me.

He will bring me out to the light;

I shall look upon his vindication.

Posted in: Advent Readings

Advent Day 7

Posted on: December 2, 2023

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2

PRAYER OF HOPE

In creation, you brought your light into the darkness when you did not have to, being complete and perfect in yourself and your glory. We marvel that you created us to share in your eternal light.

SCRIPTURE READING
2 Corinthians 3:12–18

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Posted in: Advent Readings

Advent Day 6

Posted on: December 1, 2023

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1

PRAYER OF HOPE

In creation, you brought your light into the darkness when you did not have to, being complete and perfect in yourself and your glory. We marvel that you created us to share in your eternal light.

SCRIPTURE READING

Psalm 57:8–11

Awake, my glory!

Awake, O harp and lyre!

I will awake the dawn!

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth!

Posted in: Advent Readings

Advent Day 5

Posted on: November 30, 2023

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30

PRAYER OF HOPE

In creation, you brought your light into the darkness when you did not have to, being complete and perfect in yourself and your glory. We marvel that you created us to share in your eternal light.

SCRIPTURE READING

Exodus 13:21–22

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

Isaiah 60:19–20

The sun shall be no more

your light by day,

nor for brightness shall the moon

give you light;

but the LORD will be your everlasting light,

and your God will be your glory.

Your sun shall no more go down,

nor your moon withdraw itself;

for the LORD will be your everlasting light,

and your days of mourning shall be ended.

Posted in: Advent Readings

Advent Day 4

Posted on: November 29, 2023

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29

PRAYER OF HOPE

In creation, you brought your light into the darkness when you did not have to, being complete and perfect in yourself and your glory. We marvel that you created us to share in your eternal light.

SCRIPTURE READING

Psalm 104:1–4

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot;
he rides on the wings of the wind;
he makes his messengers winds,
his ministers a flaming fire.

Posted in: Advent Readings

Advent Day 3

Posted on: November 28, 2023

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28

PRAYER OF HOPE

In creation, you brought your light into the darkness when you did not have to, being complete and perfect in yourself and your glory. We marvel that you created us to share in your eternal light.

SCRIPTURE READING
Exodus 34:5–10

The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

Exodus 34:29–33

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the LORD had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

Posted in: Advent Readings

Advent Day 2

Posted on: November 27, 2023

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27

PRAYER OF HOPE

In creation, you brought your light into the darkness when you did not have to, being complete and perfect in yourself and your glory. We marvel that you created us to share in your eternal light.

SCRIPTURE READING
Habakkuk 3:2–4

O LORD, I have heard the report of you,

and your work, O LORD, do I fear.

In the midst of the years revive it;

in the midst of the years make it known;

in wrath remember mercy.

God came from Teman,

and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah

His splendor covered the heavens,

and the earth was full of his praise.

His brightness was like the light;

rays flashed from his hand;

and there he veiled his power.

Posted in: Advent Readings

Advent Day 1

Posted on: November 26, 2023

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26

PRAYER OF HOPE
In creation, you brought your light into the darkness when you did not have to, being complete and perfect in yourself and your glory. We marvel that you created us to share in your eternal light.

SCRIPTURE READING
James 1:17–18

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Posted in: Advent Readings