Good Evening Dear Family!

Happy Penultimate Day of Advent! I cannot believe that we have #persisted with our #HashTagsWithMeaning this year. We have a few more days to go on our Celtic Advent Calendar as it adds the 12 days of Christmas. I have 3 more days until I can take Sabbath after more ministry down at church or the Faith Factory. God is Good ! So let us keep on #persisting in and on our faith journey. Today's journal work is to write what today's #AdventWord #Persist means to you! Let us also look up the word's definition and etymology just for fun! Check out the synonyms too. Today we pray and meditate with all the lessons and psalms for today. So let us begin!

Now let us begin our time of holding sacred space in a healing circle of love.

Peace be still
Peace be.
Peace.

Peace be still
Peace be.
Peace.

Peace be still.
Peace be.
Peace.

"The extreme rarity of transitional forms in the fossil record persists as the trade secret of paleontology." ~ Soren Kierkegaard

"If you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl, but keep moving forward!" ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." ~ Confucius

"I am overwhelmed by the grace and persistence of my people." ~ Maya Angelou

"Champions keep playing until they get it right." ~ Billie Jean King

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." ~ Christopher Reeve

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." ~ Confucius

"So long as there is breath in me, that long will I persist." ~ Og Mandino

"God did not write a book and send it by messenger to be read at a distance by unaided minds. He spoke a Book and lives in His spoken words, constantly speaking His words and causing the power of them to persist across the years." ~ Aiden Wilson Tozer

"My three P's would be pray, pray first. Second, prepare, and then persist." ~ Tim Scott

"In the last analysis, the individual person is responsible for living his own life and for 'finding himself.' If he persists in shifting his responsibility to somebody else, he fails to find out the meaning of his own existence." ~ Thomas Merton

You heavens above rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up. Isaiah 45:8

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Let us greet one another in prayer, as we vigil and in love for one another as we make a healing circle of love in sacred community.

Our Great O Antiphon of the Day

O Emmanuel

O Emmanuel -Healey Willan

Latin:

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,

exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:

veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

English:

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,

the hope of the nations and their Saviour:

Come and save us, O Lord our God.

The Song of Mary Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior, *

for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *

you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,

and holy is your name.

You have mercy on those who fear you *

from generation to generation.

You have shown strength with your arm *

and scattered the proud in their conceit,

Casting down the mighty from their thrones *

and lifting up the lowly.

You have filled the hungry with good things *

and sent the rich away empty.

You have come to the help of your servant Israel, *

for you have remembered your promise of mercy,

The promise made to our forebears, *

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Latin:

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,

exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:

veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

English:

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,

the hope of the nations and their Saviour:

Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Image result for Come O Come Emmanuel Antiphon

Advent Vespers: Magnificat with Antiphon "O Emmanuel"

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Come and save us, * O Lord God of hosts.

Come and save us, O Lord God of hosts.

Show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved:

O Lord God of hosts.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Come and save us, O Lord God of hosts.

V. Show us your mercy, O Lord:

R. And grant us your salvation.

Light of the World Phos hilaron

Light of the world, in grace and beauty,

Mirror of God’s eternal face,

Transparent flame of love’s free duty,

You bring salvation to our race.

Now, as we see the lights of evening,

We raise our voice in hymns of praise;

Worthy are you of endless blessing,

Sun of our night, lamp of our days.

Prayer Over The Advent Candle

O God, as light comes from this candle,

May the blessing of Jesus Christ come to us,

Warming our hearts and brightening our way.

May Christ our Savior

Bring life into the darkness of this world,

And to us, as we wait for his coming.

Amen.

(www.catholicnewsagency.com)

A Smudging Prayer

Creator, our Father in heaven, we come to you as your children. We confess that we are weak and broken images of you. We pray for the forgiveness and healing you give in Jesus Christ. May his Spirit clean our spirits, minds, hearts, and bodies. We pray that your Holy Spirit will help us to worship in spirit and truth. We pray in the name of Jesus, so that his Spirit will carry our prayers to you. Amen.

God of all power, love, mercy and radiant light, strengthen us we pray as we light our candles and be at prayer. We pray for your healing power among us who are ill. We pray that we may lovingly respond to our family members who are in need of loving comfort when they are going through any crisis. We pray this night for an end to all forms of weaponry and violence. We pray that we may have courage to lean on you when we feel our energy waning. We pray for all family members who are being robbed of power due to abuse, human trafficking, slavery, bullying, and people who make them feel insignificant and invisible. We pray for peace in this fragile and broken world and in our hearts and minds. We pray that we may listen to your call to serve and be empowered to carry your light, your love, your mercy, with listening ears and open hearts. We pray this night and as we remember this The Love and Light that God gave me, I give to you and to all of our family members. May we reflect God's love and light and feel God's holy power indwelling in us and calling us to pray and serve. May we know that there's power in our prayers and it comes from you O God. Amen.

The Song of Mary

Magnificat Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 33:17-22

The Land of the Majestic King

17 Your eyes will see the king in his beauty;
they will behold a land that stretches far away.
18 Your mind will muse on the terror:
‘Where is the one who counted?
Where is the one who weighed the tribute?
Where is the one who counted the towers?’
19 No longer will you see the insolent people,
the people of an obscure speech that you cannot comprehend,
stammering in a language that you cannot understand.
20 Look on Zion, the city of our appointed festivals!
Your eyes will see Jerusalem,
a quiet habitation, an immovable tent,
whose stakes will never be pulled up,
and none of whose ropes will be broken.
21 But there the Lord in majesty will be for us
a place of broad rivers and streams,
where no galley with oars can go,
nor stately ship can pass.
22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our ruler,
the Lord is our king; he will save us.

80 Qui regis Israel

1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.

2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
stir up your strength and come to help us.

3 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

4 O Lord God of hosts, *
how long will you be angered
despite the prayers of your people?

5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
you have given them bowls of tears to drink.

6 You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

8 You have brought a vine out of Egypt; *
you cast out the nations and planted it.
.
9 You prepared the ground for it; *
it took root and filled the land.

10 The mountains were covered by its shadow *
and the towering cedar trees by its boughs.

11 You stretched out its tendrils to the Sea *
and its branches to the River.

12 Why have you broken down its wall, *
so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes?

13 The wild boar of the forest has ravaged it, *
and the beasts of the field have grazed upon it.

14 Turn now, O God of hosts, look down from heaven;
behold and tend this vine; *
preserve what your right hand has planted.

15 They burn it with fire like rubbish; *
at the rebuke of your countenance let them perish.

16 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *
the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.

17 And so will we never turn away from you; *
give us life, that we may call upon your Name.

18 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

148 Laudate Dominum

1 Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord from the heavens; *

praise him in the heights.

2 Praise him, all you angels of his; *

praise him, all his host.

3 Praise him, sun and moon; *

praise him, all you shining stars. 4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, *

and you waters above the heavens.

5 Let them praise the Name of the Lord; *

for he commanded, and they were created.

6 He made them stand fast for ever and ever; *

he gave them a law which shall not pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, *

you sea-monsters and all deeps;

8 Fire and hail, snow and fog, *

tempestuous wind, doing his will;

9 Mountains and all hills, *

fruit trees and all cedars;

10 Wild beasts and all cattle, *

creeping things and winged birds;

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, *

princes and all rulers of the world;

12 Young men and maidens, *

old and young together.

13 Let them praise the Name of the Lord, *

for his Name only is exalted,

his splendor is over earth and heaven.

14 He has raised up strength for his people

and praise for all his loyal servants, *

the children of Israel, a people who are near him.

Hallelujah!

Revelation 22:6-11,18-20

6 And he said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants* what must soon take place.’

7 ‘See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.’

Epilogue and Benediction

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me; 9but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow-servant* with you and your comrades* the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!’

10 And he said to me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.’

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book; 19if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

20 The one who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Luke 1:57-66

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ 61They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ 62Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. 66All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

149 Cantate Domino

1 Hallelujah!

Sing to the Lord a new song; *

sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.

2 Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *

let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

3 Let them praise his Name in the dance; *

let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people *

and adorns the poor with victory.

5 Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *

let them be joyful on their beds.

6 Let the praises of God be in their throat *

and a two-edged sword in their hand;

7 To wreak vengeance on the nations *

and punishment on the peoples;

8 To bind their kings in chains *

and their nobles with links of iron;

9 To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *

this is glory for all his faithful people.

Hallelujah!

Malachi 3:1-5

The Coming Messenger

3See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.* 4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

150 Laudate Dominum

1 Hallelujah!

Praise God in his holy temple; *

praise him in the firmament of his power.

2 Praise him for his mighty acts; *

praise him for his excellent greatness.

3 Praise him with the blast of the ram's-horn; *

Praise him with lyre and harp.

4 Praise him with timbrel and dance; *

praise him with strings and pipe.

5 Praise him with resounding cymbals; *

praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath *

praise the Lord.

Hallelujah!

Micah 5:2-5

2 *But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,

who are one of the little clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to rule in Israel,

whose origin is from of old,

from ancient days.

3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time

when she who is in labour has brought forth;

then the rest of his kindred shall return

to the people of Israel.

4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,

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

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

to the ends of the earth;

5 and he shall be the one of peace.

If the Assyrians come into our land

and tread upon our soil,*

we will raise against them seven shepherds

and eight installed as rulers.

93 Dominus regnavit

1 The Lord is King;

he has put on splendid apparel; *

the Lord has put on his apparel

and girded himself with strength.

2 He has made the whole world so sure *

that it cannot be moved;

3 Ever since the world began, your throne has been established; *

you are from everlasting.

4 The waters have lifted up, O Lord,

the waters have lifted up their voice; *

the waters have lifted up their pounding waves.

5 Mightier than the sound of many waters,

mightier than the breakers of the sea, *

mightier is the Lord who dwells on high.

6 Your testimonies are very sure, *

and holiness adorns your house, O Lord,

for ever and for evermore.

Hebrews 10:5-10

5Consequently, when Christ* came into the world, he said,

‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,

but a body you have prepared for me;

6 in burnt-offerings and sin-offerings

you have taken no pleasure.

7 Then I said, “See, God, I have come to do your will, O God”

(in the scroll of the book* it is written of me).’

8When he said above, ‘You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt-offerings and sin-offerings’ (these are offered according to the law), 9then he added, ‘See, I have come to do your will.’ He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10And it is by God’s will* that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

96 Cantate Domino

1 Sing to the Lord a new song; *

sing to the Lord, all the whole earth.

2 Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; *

proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the nations *

and his wonders among all peoples.

4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; *

he is more to be feared than all gods.

5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *

but it is the Lord who made the heavens.

6 Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *

Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!

7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; *

ascribe to the Lord honor and power.

8 Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; *

bring offerings and come into his courts.

9 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; *

let the whole earth tremble before him.

10 Tell it out among the nations: "The Lord is King! *

he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;

he will judge the peoples with equity."

11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;

let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *

let the field be joyful and all that is therein.

12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy

before the Lord when he comes, *

when he comes to judge the earth.

13 He will judge the world with righteousness *

and the peoples with his truth.

Luke 1:39-56

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be* a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

46 And Mary* said,

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

50 His mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,

and sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

56 And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.

The Song of Zechariah Benedictus Dominus Deus

Blessed are you, Lord, the God of Israel, *

you have come to your people and set them free.

You have raised up for us a mighty Savior, *

born of the house of your servant David.

Through your holy prophets you promised of old

to save us from our enemies, *

from the hands of all who hate us,

To show mercy to our forebears, *

and to remember your holy covenant.

This was the oath you swore to our father Abraham, *

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

Free to worship you without fear, *

holy and righteous before you,

all the days of our life.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet

of the Most High, *

for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,

To give God’s people knowledge of salvation *

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God *

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

To shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death, *

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Collects from A New Zealand Prayer Book

God of all hope and joy,

open our hearts in welcome,

that your Son Jesus Christ at his coming may

find in us a dwelling prepared for himself;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God now and for ever.

Praise and honour to you living God;

your coming will be like a thief in the night,

like lightning flashing across the sky.

Grant that we may be ready,

and our hearts answer, Come Lord Jesus.

God faithful and true,

make us eager with expectation,

as we look for the fulfilment of your promise

in Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Fourth Sunday of Advent (BCP)

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation,

that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a

mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Jesus, you are the way through the wilderness: show us your truth
in which we journey, and by the grace of the Holy Spirit be in us
the life that draws us to God. Amen.
(source: F.B. McNutt, The Prayer Manual [London: Mowbray, 1961], p. 29,
adapted)

O God our shield and armor of light, whom we adore with all the
angelic host: defend us from evil; watch over any who are in
danger this night and give your angels charge over them; and
grant that we may always rejoice in your heavenly protection and
serve you bravely in the world; through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen.

Christ has no Body

Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks. Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. - Teresa of Avila

Let us pray the Alternative form of the Lord's Prayer as found in the New Zealand Prayer Book
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples
of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.

God we pray this night for our family and friends who are in need of food, clothing, and shelter.
God help us to live lives of love, peace, justice, and mercy so that we may care and serve our family members who are the least of these.

God we pray for all the invisible ones who long to speak for themselves.

God help us to speak for the voiceless ones who long to live lives of love, peace, justice, and mercy.

God we pray for our world that peace may prevail and that we my lay down the weapons of hatred and war.

God help us to become your peacemakers and that we may live out our lives in love, peace, justice, mercy, and unity.

God we pray for all who are ill in body, mind, and spirit.

God help us to care for our loved ones who long to live lives that are healthy in loving relationships, peaceful hearts, just communities, and merciful places of sanctuary.

God we pray_____________________

God help us in our prayers to pray in love, in peace, for justice, and mercifully.

God we lift up these our prayers in the Name of your Son Jesus who is the Living Word, Bread of Life, and Living Water. Amen.

Prayers that calm and renew

God we pray this night for all who are restless and their nerves that are shaken.
Calm our nerves, minds, and spirits God.

God we pray for peace in this your broken world.
Calm our fears, banish hate and let us sew seeds of love and mercy to those whom we fear and hate.

God we pray for all those who have entered into hospice care and are in transition.
Calm their fears and those of their loved ones as they vigil and sit at bedside. We pray for a gentle and peaceful transitioning.

God we pray for all who are ill and in need of healing.
Give us a sense of calm while we wait for your healing O God.

God give us courage when we make mistakes and admit our wrong doing.
Calm our fears and make us strong as we meet the bumps in the road and along our life's journey.

God we pray for our nation as it goes through many trials and tribulations.
Calm our unnecessary fears and banish all of our phobias, hate, and mistrust.

God we pray for a restful and peaceful night and that we may be rested, relaxed, renewed, and refreshed.
Give us Calm bodies, minds, and spirits as we rest.

God we pray for all those who ask us for prayer remembering especially__________________ and for ourselves._____________.
Give us calm while we pray.

God we pray for rain in the drought parched lands. Help us to conserve water and be diligent in conservation of our environment.

God we pray for all the leaders of the nations around the world that need to feel the power of your love and remember they are ambassadors for peace and that they do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you O god and that they may turn their swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks and that they may never learn war anymore.
Calm all this extremism and warring madness.

God we pray for all who lead the various faith communities and the people with whom they minister. Calm our fears when we meet other family members of God from other faiths that we may show our love and compassion to them.

God we pray this night for all the least of these. Keep them safe from harm.
Calm their fears in the night hours and may they feel your loving and protective arms around them.

Calm us O God That we may be renewed by your loving presence that we may use the presents you have given us in the presence and service of others.

God we lift up these prayers in the name of your only Son Jesus the Christ. Amen.

The Beatitudes Matthew 5:3–12

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (5:3)
Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)
Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10

Everything Has Its Time

Ecclesiastes 3

3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

We pray these #HashtagsWithMeaning our #AdventWords2018!

God we give thanks for our yearly #journey to seek Jesus in the manger and celebrate His birth.

God help us to keep #Watch over our family members who need us the most and take the Matthew 25 Pledge daily: I pledge to protect and defend vulnerable people in the name of Jesus.

God, help us to #Focus on what matters most during this season of watchful waiting and joyful expectation.

God, we pray for all of our family members who are homeless, hungry and ill-clad during the cold winter #nights. May we remember that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were in similar situations.

God, we pray that we may become your #Light shiners to this fragile and broken world. May we carry your #light with love, joy, hope, peace, and be the change you want us to be in the world.

God,we pray that we may lead lives rooted in the fruits of the spirit and may#Sprout healthy branches that will be able to foster goodness and love and serve all of your family members throughout the world.

God, we pray that we may be #Alert to your voice and what you are calling us to do and to be.

God, we pray and give thanks for times of going into the #wild just to be with you and in your time come out refreshed, renewed, and empowered to do your will and work for you and with you.

God, we #Cry out in prayer and as voices for all who are in need or in trouble. We remember all refugees, homeless, persecuted, racially profiled, bullied and abused and we remember especially those who are seeking asylum. We add our own petitions here_______________.

God, we pray that we may #Go out in to the world and serve you and #Grow in the way of Jesus.

God, we pray and give thanks for #Rough times when we need to acknowledge our dependence upon you and each other.

God, we pray for ways in which to #smooth things over with our family members when situations become #Rough and rocky especially during this time of year.

God, help us we pray to #prune all of the dead gunk in our heart homes so that we may make room for Jesus in our hearts this season and year to come.

God we lift up these our prayers as we #prepare to worship you on the morrow, in the name of Jesus your Son. Amen.

God help us to learn how to #Rejoice during times of dis-ease. God give us strength to see and feel joy in times of sorrow.

God we #Sing praises to you and give thanks for all that you are doing in the lives of your children.

God we give thanks for our #Ancestors who are our role models and have walked life's #journey before us. May we do the same for generations to come.

God #Wash our hearts and minds from all malicious thoughts and actions, that we may be ever fixed on You and loving and serving our neighbors who are made in your image and likeness.

God help us to have our hearts set #Ablaze with love and in service to you!

God give us courage to #Watch and wait for the #Sign of your son Jesus' Second coming.

God we pray that we may wait and #Expect that our souls may joyfully take flight as we celebrate the birth of your only Son Jesus and live truly as your heirs in your kindom of Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy.

God help us to #Persist in Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy. May we have don attitudes of Peace, Joy, Hope, and Love as we serve the least of these your children as we #Persist in acts of grace and gentleness.

God we pray the words of the Ancient Hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel! May Emmanuel come soon.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave. Refrain

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain

O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery. Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain

O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call. Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace. Refrain

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear. Refrain

God we pray these our prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

We light this final candle for our peace, hope, love, and joy in the world and within ourselves:

God of Love help us to be loving to all of our family of love. We pray that we may lovingly respond to each other's needs and concerns.

O Come Emmanuel, Come Soon and enliven our spirits with your compassion, acceptance, love and mercy! May we always show love, bring joy, give hope, and make peace to all of our family members and living things.

God of Love we pray for all who are traveling the next few days to visit loved ones. We pray for all of our loved ones whom we haven't seen for awhile.