January 4
Saturday Morning Prayer for Christmastide
from Daily Prayer for All Seasons
Opening
The Word made flesh.
Makes God’s presence known in us.
Prayer
Light of life, you came in flesh, born into human pain and joy, and gave us power to be your children: Grant us faith, O Christ, to see your presence among us, so that all creation may sing new songs of gladness and walk in the way of peace. Amen.
Praise: The Song of Mary (Magnificat; Luke 1:46-55)
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 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 forever.
Scripture:
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s bosom, who has made God known. John 1:14, 16, 18
Readings appointed from the Daily Office Lectionary:
Meditation
“You will know when it is time to bring to birth the new creation. The signs will be all around you, urging, insisting: Now is the time. You have to know just when to bear down and concentrate on one thing only. It takes labor, hard, hard labor to bring to birth something new.”
-Miriam Therese Winter
What is God calling forth from us? How will we labor to birth what God calls for?
Affirmation
We believe in God, the source of love,
who created humanity in God’s own image
and likeness,
who blessed them and asked them to
procreate, nurture and preserve God’s creation
for prosperity.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God incarnate,
who was born of a woman and was a carpenter,
who identified himself with women, men
and children,
transforming them to have life abundantly.
We believe in the Holy Spirit active before creation,
who through the ages has inspired Christians
without number,
who continues to inspire us to usher in the reign
of God,
where no one is cast out, lonely or bereft.
Prayers
Wonderful Counselor,
whose glory is beyond our understanding
and whose love is beyond measure:
Let us know your presence now.
Mighty God,
whose power girds creation,
whose hands cradle the hills, yet whose mercy is
boundless:
Let us know your presence now.
Prince of Peace,
whose righteousness is like the strong mountains
and whose justice is as the great deep:
Let us know your presence now.
Emmanuel,
whose property it is always to have mercy,
and whose arm is long to save, we lift before you now:
Intercessions
Hold all those we love in your unbounded love.
Make us your healing presence in the world.
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer:
Loving Word of God, you have shown us the fullness of your glory in taking human flesh: Fill us, in our bodily life, with your grace and truth, that our pleasure may be boundless and our integrity complete. Amen.
Going Out
The Word made flesh.
Makes God’s presence known in us.
Virtual Chapel of St. Phoebe 