Congregation at Prayer: Christmas I
The Congregation at Prayer
A guide for daily meditation and prayer
Christmas 1 2018
Invocation
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Apostles Creed Catechism on pg. 15, and inside back cover of LSB
Psalm Psalm 89:1-8
Daily Readings (Also found in LSB on pg. 299)
Day
Old Testament
New Testament
Sunday
Isaiah 58:1-59:3, 14-21
Luke 1:39-56
Monday
Isaiah 60:1-22
Luke 1:39-56
Tuesday
Isaiah 61:1-11
Luke 1:57-80
Wednesday
Isaiah 62:1-12
Luke 2:1-20
Thursday
Isaiah 63:1-14
Luke 2:21-40
Friday
Isaiah 63:15-65:7
Luke 2:41-52
Saturday
Isaiah 65:8-25
Luke 3:1-20
Catechism: The Lord’s Prayer – The Second Petition
Hymn Let All Together Praise Our God LSB 389
Prayers
In Our Prayers This Week
Gary Sorensen, Don Mueller (Jamie Andrews’ grandfather), Dorothy Berger, David Serkowski (friend of the Sorensens), Howard Thiel, Matt Kruse, Sue Barton, Hugh Hunkeler (Bev Bartel’s son-in-law, has detached retina), Christine Stevens (Clara Higgins’ sister in law diagnosed with cancer), Caden Andrews (Jamie Andrews’ nephew diagnosed with colon cancer), Pastor Roemke (undergoing surgery this week), Amy Pitchers (Anna Willman’s friend diagnosed with stage 4 cancer)
Collect of the Week
O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Morning Prayer
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Evening Prayer
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that you would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have
no power over me. Amen.
Mealtime Prayer
The eyes of all look to You, O Lord, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
Lord God, heavenly Father, bless us and these Your gifts which we receive from Your bountiful goodness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Next Weekend’s Readings
The Epiphany of Our Lord
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 24
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
The Feast of the Epiphany centers in the visit of the Magi from the East. In that respect, it is a “Thirteenth Day” of Christmas; and yet, it also marks the beginning of a new liturgical season. While Christmas has focused on the Incarnation of our Lord—that is, on God becoming flesh—the season of Epiphany emphasizes the manifestation or self-revelation of God in that same flesh of Christ. For the Lord Himself has entered our darkness and rises upon us with the brightness of His true light (Is. 60:1–2). He does so chiefly by His Word of the Gospel, which He causes to be preached within His Church on earth—not only to the Jews but also to Gentiles (Eph. 3:8–10). As the Magi were guided by the promises of Holy Scripture to find and worship the Christ Child with His mother in the house (Matt. 2:5–11), so does He call disciples from all nations by the preaching of His Word, to find and worship Him within His Church (Is. 60:3–6). With gold they confess His royalty; with incense, His deity; and with myrrh, His priestly sacrifice (Matt. 2:11).