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Devotional Hymns & Prayers:Advent & Christmas 2018

Copyright © 2018 by Christ Church PlanoMusic icon by Abderraouf Omara / Noun Project

www.ChristChurchPlano.org

I am pleased to offer these Devotional Hymns & Prayers for Advent & Christmas for your family this holiday season.

While any disciple of Jesus can benefit from this devotional, we specifically designed it with families in mind:

• Each week features a reflection by a member of the Christ Church clergy on one of the great hymns of the faith.

• Each day provides scripture readings and prayers for the Advent & Christmas seasons.

• Each evening, you are encouraged to light a candle and reflect on scripture with your loved ones.

I pray that this resource may be a blessing to you and your loved ones during this special time of year.

Fr. Paul DonisonRector of Christ Church & Dean of Texas

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Advent I 1 Lo! he comes with clouds descending, once for our salvation slain;

thousand, thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ the Lord returns to reign.

2 Every eye shall now behold him, robed in dreadful majesty; those who set at nought and sold him, pierced, and nailed him to the tree, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, shall the true Messiah see.

3 Those dear tokens of his passion still his dazzling body bears, cause of endless exultation to his ransomed worshipers; with what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture, gaze we on those glorious scars!

4 Yea, amen! let all adore thee, high on thine eternal throne; Savior, take the power and glory; claim the kingdom for thine own: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou shalt reign, and thou alone.

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788). Public domain.

HYMN REFLECTION Fr. Bryan Biba

Like the Greek god Janus, Advent is a double-faced season.

Advent looks backwards. We remember Israel waiting for the Messiah. We listen with expectation to the voice of the prophets declaring the day of the Lord. We long for the Holy Spirit to give life to the church as in days of old.

Advent looks forwards. We hope for the coming of King Jesus to judge the living and the dead. We anticipate the movement of the Holy Spirit in our world. We watch with the saints for the renewal of all things.

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This classic Advent hymn by Charles Wesley captures the back-wards-forwards nature of the Advent season. It imagines a future where Christ returns ‘with clouds descending…robed in dreadful majesty’. People from all times and places behold Christ with the ‘dear tokens of his passion’ and are faced with a choice: do I reject this Jesus? Or do I bow down before him in adoration and ‘endless exultation’?

During Advent, our past and God’s future collide. This season provokes us to consider who reigns on the throne of our lives to-day. May we, with all the saints, proclaim: ‘Savior, take the power and glory; claim the kingdom for thine own: Alleluia! Thou shalt reign, and thou alone.’

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2

Morning Read aloud Psalm 81.

Noon Read quietly Amos 1:1-15. Write a question for reflection at dinner time.

Evening Light your candle and read aloud Psalm 83.

Bedtime Pray the collect for Advent I.

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 3

Morning Read aloud Psalm 84:1-12.


Evening Light your candle and read aloud Psalm 85:1-13.

Bedtime Pray in the words of Aelred of Rievaulx.

O Lord Jesus, I will embrace you who became a little child for me. In my weakness I clasp you who became weak for me. A mere man, I embrace you who is God made man. You came a man as poor as I am, and you rode into Jerusalem seated on a humble donkey. I embrace you, O Lord, because your lowliness is my greatness, your weakness is my strength, your foolishness is my wisdom.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4

Morning Read aloud Psalms 86 & 87.



Bedtime Pray in the words of Alcuin of York.

Dear God, here on earth you are constantly seeking to change us. At times we wish to flee into the wilderness to avoid you. But let us learn to love the last-ing things of heaven, rather than the dying things of earth. We must accept that time always brings change; and we pray that by your grace the change within our souls will make us worthy of your heavenly kingdom, where all time will cease.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5




Bedtime Pray in the words of Basil of Caesarea.

Steer the ship of my life, good Lord, to your quiet harbor, where I can be safe from the storms of sin and conflict. Show me the course I should take. Renew in me the gift of discernment, so that I can always see the right direction in which I should go. And give me the strength and the courage to choose the right course, even when the sea is rough and the waves are high, knowing that through enduring hardship and danger in your name we shall find com-fort and peace.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6




Bedtime Pray in the words of the Venerable Bede.

Lord God, open my heart and pour into it the grace of your Holy Spirit. By this grace may I always seek to do what is pleasing to you; may my thoughts al-ways reflect your thoughts; and may my affections be solely directed towards the unending joys of heaven. Thus may I on earth fulfill your commandments, that I may be worthy of your everlasting reward.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7




Bedtime Pray in the words of Columbanus.

Lord, I pray that You may be a lamp for me in the darkness. Touch my soul and kindle a fire within it, that it may burn brightly and give light to my life. Thus my body may truly become Your temple, lit by Your perpetual flame burning on the altar of my heart. And may the light within me shine on my brothers and sisters that it may drive away the darkness of ignorance and sin from them also. Thus together let us be lights to the world, manifesting the bright beauty of Your gospel to all around us.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8




Bedtime Pray in the words of John Cosin.

Be thou a light unto my eyes, music to mine ears, sweetness to my taste, and full contentment to my heart. Be thou my sunshine in the day, my food at table, my repose in the night, my clothing in nakedness, and my succor in all necessities.

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Advent II 1 On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s

cry announces that the Lord is nigh; awake and hearken, for he brings glad tidings of the King of kings.

2 Then cleansed be every breast from sin; make straight the way for God within, and let each heart prepare a home where such a mighty guest may come.

3 For thou art our salvation, Lord, our refuge and our great reward; without thy grace we waste away like flowers that wither and decay.

4 To heal the sick stretch out thine hand, and bid the fallen sinner stand; shine forth, and let thy light restore earth’s own true loveliness once more.

5 All praise, eternal Son, to thee, whose advent doth thy people free; whom with the Father we adore and Holy Spirit evermore.

Words by Charles Coffin (1676-1749); Translated by Charles Winfred Douglas (1867-1944), after John Chandler (1806-1876); alt. Public domain.

HYMN REFLECTION Fr. Jonathan Bailes

This Advent will be the eleventh time that my wife and I have cel-ebrated this season together, and if I’m being honest, I must say that it has not always been easy. For Advent is a time for self-re-flection and repentance, a time to listen once more to that earnest voice of John crying in the wilderness and ask ourselves: Are we

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ready? Have we made straight our crooked lives? Have we made ready our unprepared hearts? But questions like these, and the pensive and penitential mood that they can inspire, sometimes feel at odds with the busyness and festivity of the holiday season. Which is why, sometimes, I would rather just ditch Advent and get on with the festivities. Less preparation, more celebration!

That is one of the reasons why I appreciate this hymn. The first and second stanzas repeat the common admonitions of Advent: awake, listen, make way, prepare. But the hymn doesn’t end there. In the third stanza, it gives us a reason why we should follow these admonitions. Because the one we wait for is our salvation, our “refuge and our great reward,” apart from whom we waste away “like flowers that wither and decay.” Advent is a time to remind ourselves that the joys and pleasures of our holiday celebrations pale in comparison to the joy yet to come. Advent is not a rejec-tion of festivity; it is simply a time to prepare for the much great-er festivity that will accompany our Lord’s return.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9



Evening Light your candle and read Psalms 101 & 102.

Bedtime Pray the collect for Advent II.

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 10




Bedtime Pray in the words of the Gelasian Sacramentary.

Stir up our hearts, we beseech you, to prepare ourselves to receive your Son. When he comes and knocks, may he find us not sleeping in sin, but awake to righteousness, ceaselessly rejoicing in his love. May our hearts and minds be so purified, that we may be ready to receive his promise of eternal life.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11


Noon Read quietly Micah 1:1-16. Write a question for reflection at dinner time.

Evening Light your candle and read Psalm 105:23-45.

Bedtime Pray in the words of Hildegard of Bingen.

Beautiful God, strip from me this ugly, dirty coat of sin, and put on me the bright, pure garment of Spirit. Brave God, drive from me the growling wolves of corruption that threaten to attack me, and bring to my side your gentle Lamb who can always protect me.

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Evening Light your candle and read Psalm 106:25-48.

Bedtime Pray in the words of Ignatius of Loyola.

Take, Lord, and receive all my freedom, my memory, my intelligence and my will—all I have and possess. You, Lord, have given those things to me. I now give them back to you, Lord. All belongs to you. Dispose of these gifts accord-ing to your will. I ask only for your love and your grace, for they are enough for me.





Bedtime Pray in the words of John of the Cross.

Who but you, Lord, could bring sweetness in the midst of bitterness, pleasure in the midst of torment? How wonderful are the wounds in my soul, since the deeper the wound, the greater is the joy of healing!

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14




Bedtime Pray in the words of Margery Kempe.

Ah, blessed Lord, I wish I knew how I might best love you and please you, and that my love were as sweet to you as your love is to me.





Bedtime Pray in the words of William Laud.

Grant, O Lord, that we may live in thy fear, die in thy favor, rest in thy peace, rise in thy power, reign in thy glory.

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Advent III 1 O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

2 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. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

3 O come, O come, thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height in ancient times didst give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

4 O come, thou Branch of Jesse’s tree, free them from Satan’s tyranny That trust thy mighty power to save, and give them victory o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

5 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. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

6 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. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

LM with refrain; ‘O’ Antiphons, Latin, 9th cent.; verses 1, 3-5, para. in Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Cologne, 1710; tr. by John Mason Neale, 1818-1866;

verses 2, 6 tr. fr. The Hymnal 1940, alt. Music: Chant, Mode I; Processionale, French, 15th cent.; adapt. by Thomas Helmore, 1811-1890. Used by Permission. OneLicense.net #A-705393.

HYMN REFLECTION Deacon John Battey

The Christmas season is a wonderful time to welcome guests into our homes, our church, and our lives. In the days leading up to these precious visits, our thoughts turn to the tasks of preparation and anticipation. It is exciting to prepare our homes and hearts for old and new friends to join our lives, and the anticipation of their visit makes us look forward to the moment they will appear.

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Two thousand years ago, the Israelites longed for God to appear. Emmanuel means “God with us;” this hymn echoes the greatest desire of their hearts with a repeated appeal to ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel.’ Their hearts were prepared, knowing that God would free them from sadness and death. He had promised to their fore-fathers that He would come to bring joy, happiness, and eternal life, and the Israelites anticipated the moment of His arrival.

This Advent season we remember the first visit of Emmanuel. Je-sus came among us and broke the bonds of evil in our lives. But we also look forward to His next appearance. He has promised to return, so we must make ready for this most important of all visi-tors. He is the Lord of Might and the King of Peace!

This Advent season, let us prepare our hearts with joy and thanks-giving and anticipate His coming again in glory.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16




Bedtime Pray the collect for Advent III.

O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repen-tance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 17




Bedtime Pray in the words of Mechthild of Magdeburg.

I cannot dance, O Lord, unless you lead me. If it is your will, I can leap with joy. But you must show me how to dance and sing By dancing and singing yourself! With you I will leap towards love, And from love I will leap to truth, And from truth I will leap to joy, And then I shall leap beyond all human senses, There I will remain and dance evermore.



Noon Read quietly Habakkuk 1:1-17. Write a question for reflection at dinner time.


Bedtime Pray in the words of Jeremy Taylor.

O Almighty God, infinite and eternal, thou art in the consciences of all men. Teach me to walk always as in thy presence, to fear thy majesty, to reverence thy wisdom: that I may never dare to commit any indecency in the eye of my Lord and my Judge; that I, expressing the belief of thy presence here, may feel the effects of it in eternal glory.

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Bedtime Pray in the words of John Cosin.

Lord Jesus, I give thee my body, my soul, my substance, my fame, my friends, my liberty, and my life. Dispose of me and all that is mine as it may seem best to thee and to the glory of thy blessed name.





Bedtime Pray in the words of Christine Rossetti.

Lord, make me pure: Only the pure shall see thee as thou art, And shall endure. Lord, bring me low; For thou wert lowly in thy blessed heart: Lord, keep me so.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 Feast of St. Thomas


Noon Read quietly Zephaniah 1:1-18. Write a question for reflection at dinner time.


Bedtime Pray the collect for St. Thomas.

Everliving God, you strengthened your apostle Thomas with firm and certain faith in your Son’s resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.





Bedtime Pray in the words of Brother Lawrence.

My God, here I am, my heart devoted to you. Fashion me according to your heart.

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Advent IV 1 Savior of the nations, come, virgin’s Son, make here Thy home!

Marvel now, O heav’n and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth.

2 Not by human flesh and blood, but the Spirit of our God, was the Word of God made flesh—woman’s Offspring, pure and fresh.

3 Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child Of the Virgin undefiled! Though by all the world disowned, still to be in heav’n enthroned.

4 From the Father forth He came and returneth to the same, captive leading death and hell—high the song of triumph swell!

5 Thou the Father’s only Son, hast o’er sin the vict’ry won. Boundless shall Thy kingdom be; when shall we its glories see?

6 Brightly doth Thy manger shine, glorious is its light divine. Let not sin o’ercloud this light; ever be our faith thus bright.

Words by Martin Luther (1483-1546) after Ambrose of Milan (340-397). Sts. 3-4 © 1982. James Waring McCrady. Used by Permission. OneLicense.net #A-705393.

HYMN REFLECTION Fr. Jeff Rawn

Savior of the Nations, Come, as one can see from the ascription, is actually an ancient hymn that Martin Luther translated into German. Of course, it has subsequently been translated into En-glish in various renditions, all of which have retained its original themes. It is a long-established Advent “carol” in some Christian traditions, particularly Lutheran, for obvious reasons.

The message in this hymn makes it especially appropriate for this last Sunday in Advent, since it flows back and forth between long-ing for the appearing of our Lord (Advent), the mystery of His In-carnation and Nativity (Christmas) and praise-filled acknowledg-ment of the redemptive work for which He came (and will come again).

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Today’s reading from Zephaniah, although bearing a strong theme of judgment, concludes with a promise of grace—salva-tion and transformation—which is ultimately realized in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. This very grace of God, offered to the all the nations of the world, is what our hymn is about. And like many ancient hymns, it rings loud and clear with biblical statements of faith, concluding with a petition for the Lord to keep and strengthen us in that faith. May it indeed be so!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23




Bedtime Pray the collect for Advent IV.

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and as we are sorely hindered by our sins from running the race that is set before us, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 Christmas Eve


Noon Read quietly Zechariah 1:1-21. Write a question for reflection at dinner time.


Bedtime Pray the collect for Christmas Eve.

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

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Christmas Day 1 O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

2 For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth! and praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.

3 How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

4 Where children pure and happy pray to the blessed Child, where misery cries out to thee, Son of the mother mild; where charity stand watching and faith holds wide the door, the dark night wakes, the glory breaks, Christmas comes once more.

5 O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

Words by Phillips Brooks (1835-1893). Public domain.

HYMN REFLECTION Fr. Paul Donison

The Christmas Gospel declares that into a world of darkness and brokenness, a light of redemption has dawned. Isaiah’s words fill the Sanctuary with electricity, “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulders, and he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Pain is met with grace in the Christ Child—“the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

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Yet, the strangeness of this festival also rests in how unaware the world is of this Gospel in the Nativity. Perhaps this is what Phil-lips Brooks had in mind when he wrote this hymn about that very first Christmas. As people slept their dreamless sleeps, and as si-lent stars went by, aside from a few shepherds, the residents of Bethlehem were unaware that God had entered the world in a new way that night. We sing, “How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is given!” God did not enter the scene with a crash of cymbals but instead humbly “moved into the neighborhood” (John 1:14 The Message).

So, let us remember today, as we celebrate, that this Christmas Gospel is a gift that is meant to be shared. We celebrate the greatest gift of all gifts within a world that is suffering and dying. But as we share this Christmas Gospel, “in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.”



Noon Read quietly Micah 4:1-5; 5:2-4. Write a question for reflection at dinner time.


Bedtime Pray the collect for Christmas Day.

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born this day of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26 Feast of St. Stephen




Bedtime Pray the collect for St. Stephen.

O Glorious Lord, your servant Stephen looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors: grant that in all our sufferings here upon earth we may love and forgive our enemies, looking steadfastly to Jesus Christ our Lord, who sits at your right hand and intercedes for us; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27 Feast of St. John the Evangelist




Bedtime Pray the collect for St. John the Evangelist.

Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light; that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28 Feast of the Holy Innocents




Bedtime Pray the collect for the Holy Innocents.

Almighty God, out of the mouths of children you manifest your truth, and by the death of the holy innocents at the hands of evil tyrants you show your strength in our weakness: We ask you to mortify all that is evil within us, and so strengthen us by your grace, that we may glorify your holy Name by the in-nocence of our lives and the constancy of our faith even unto death; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who died for us and now lives with you and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.





Bedtime Pray in the words of Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Moonless darkness stands between. Past, the Past, no more be seen! But the Bethlehem-star may lead me To the sight of Him Who freed me From the self that I have been. Make me pure, Lord: Thou art holy; Make me meek, Lord: Thou wert lowly; Now beginning, and always: Now begin, on Christmas day.

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Christmas I 1 O Savior of our fallen race,

O Brightness of the Father’s face, O Son who shared the Father’s might before the world knew day or night.

2 Remember, Lord of life and grace, how once, to save our fallen race, you put our human vesture on and came to us as Mary’s son.

3 For from the Father’s throne you came, his banished children to reclaim; and earth and sea and sky revere the love of him who sent you here.

4 O Christ, Redeemer virgin born, let songs of praise your Name adorn, whom with the Father we adore and Holy Spirit evermore.

Words: Copyright © 1978. Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission. OneLicense.net #A-705393.

HYMN REFLECTION Fr. Steven Saul

In some ways, today may seem a little subdued. Garland and rem-nants of ribbons from packages may still be around the house as the celebration of Christmas Day ends, but some of us may be feeling eager to get the boxes down from the attic, begin packing decorations and make our focus on the New Year ahead. However, we are only in the sixth day of the Christmas season (there are twelve.) The birth of Christ makes way for the hope we have as a people who are overcome by sin and brokenness. The reading to-day from Zechariah reflects that same hope we have in our bless-ed Savior. We read: “Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous

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and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9b ESV).

How powerful the imagery of seeing the Savior of the world mak-ing His entry in the most humble of means (a stable) where an-imals were housed. In the same way, Jesus would make his way into the city of Jerusalem, seated on a donkey, in his triumphal entry on Palm Sunday. Christ models simplicity and selflessness in his birth and throughout his life – to the point of his death on the cross.

The significance of these twelve days of Christmas offers each of us the opportunity to focus on the Savior who came as the “Lord of life and grace.” Let us not hurry this shortest of seasons in the life of the church, but draw near to the little Lord Jesus who brings hope to those who understand the significance of the cross – the present Christ who brings hope to a lost and dying world.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30




Bedtime Pray the collect for Christmas I.

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 31




Bedtime Pray in the words of Bernard of Clairvaux.

“Let your goodness Lord appear to us, that we, made in your image, conform ourselves to it. In our own strength we cannot imitate your majesty, power, and wonder; nor is it fitting for us to try. But your mercy reaches from the heaven, through the clouds, to the earth below. You have come to us as a small child, but you have brought us the greatest of all gifts, the gift of eternal love. Caress us with your tiny hands, embrace us with your tiny arms and pierce our hearts with your soft, sweet cries.”

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1 Feast of the Holy Name



Evening Light your candle and read aloud Psalms 3 & 4.

Bedtime Pray the collect for The Holy Name of Jesus.

Almighty God, your blessed Son fulfilled the covenant of circumcision for our sake, and was given the Name that is above every name: Give us grace faith-fully to bear his Name, and to worship him with pure hearts according to the New Covenant; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2




Bedtime Pray in the words of E. B. Pusey.

Good Jesu, born as at this time, a little child for love of us; Be thou born in me, that I may be a little child in love of thee; And hang on thy love as on my mother’s bosom, Trustfully, lovingly, peacefully; hushing all my cares in love of thee. Good Jesu, sweeten every thought of mine With the sweetness of thy love. Good Jesu, give me a deep love for thee, That nothing may be too hard for me To bear for love of thee.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3




Bedtime Pray in the words of Thomas Munzer.

Loving God, we give thanks for the birth of your son Jesus Christ, both in human form in Bethlehem and in spiritual form in our hearts. May he reign as king within every human heart, so that every town and village can live according to his joyful law of love.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 4




Bedtime Pray in the words of Adam of St Victor.

What is this jewel that is so precious? I can see it has been quarried not by men, but by God. It is you dear Jesus. You have been dug from the rocks of heaven itself to be offered to me as a gift beyond price. You shine in the dark-ness. Every color of the rainbow can be seen within you. The whole earth is bathed in your light. Infant Jesus, by being born as man you have taken upon yourself the pain of death. But such a jewel can never be destroyed. You are immortal. And by defying your own death, you shall deliver me from death.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5




Bedtime Pray in the words of Francis of Assisi.

Almighty, eternal, just and merciful God, grant us the desire to do only what pleases you, and the strength to do only what you command. Cleanse our souls, enlighten our minds, and inflame our hearts with your Holy Spirit, that we may follow in the footsteps of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

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The Epiphany 1 As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold;

as with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright; so, most gracious Lord, may we evermore be led to Thee.

2 As with joyful steps they sped to that lowly manger-bed; there to bend the knee before him whom heaven and earth adore; so may we with willing feet ever seek the mercy-seat.

3 As they offered gifts most rare at that manger rude and bare; so may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin’s alloy, all our costliest treasures bring, Christ! to thee, our heavenly King.

4 Holy Jesus! every day keep us in the narrow way; and, when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed lives at last where they need no star to guide, where no clouds thy glory hide.

5 In the heavenly country bright, need they no created light; thou its light, its joy, its crown, thou its sun which goes not down; there forever may we sing alleluias to our King.

Words by William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898). Public domain.

HYMN REFLECTION Fr. Aaron Buttery

The season of Christmas joyfully proclaims of the powerful incar-nation of God who came into the world. Christmas is a moment where we celebrate how our current reality may be changed by a past event. In Dix’s hymn, we see the tension of this possibility for change; the first three stanzas begin in the past, “As with…”, and in the midst of the third stand he invites a shift, “so may we…” From this point onward, we are singing a hoped reality, how we have been changed by “holy joy” and relationship with Jesus.

As you receive the word of God in the scripture for today, look for this tension. Experience it, as I do most clearly, in the two promis-es of God from the prophet Malachi. First in Malachi 3:5, the Lord

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promises swift witness against we who have subverted or denied God’s will. The Lord then in Malachi 3:10, promises to poor out “blessing until there is no need.” This blessing would be the expe-rience of a life lived with Holy Jesus and “in the heavenly country bright.” We are people who receive the truth of both promises: we see the tension between how the world remains broken even as Jesus has come in victory. In seeing this may we choose to “sing alleluias to our King,” not only with our lips, but in our minds, hearts, and actions. For this is Epiphany, that our eyes are opened fully to the truth of God present and coming into the world.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6


Noon Read quietly Zechariah 13:1-9, 14:1-21. Write a question for reflection at dinner time.


Bedtime Pray the collect for the Epiphany.

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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