There aren’t enough words to express the gratitude and thanksgiving for last week’s presentation and gathering. Our young people took us on a world-wide tour of Christmas observances through word and music; and we were moved by their sharing.

Then we moved to the parish hall where we were greeted with a plethora of delectable dishes from many recipes. This was also very important for it kept a great tradition, and it brought us together for a brief, but nonetheless important time of mingling.

Thanks again to Deborah and Liz for the work in preparing our young people; to the parents for making sure that rehearsals were met and lines learned; and to the many hands that prepared the many dishes we all enjoyed.

May the Christ Child for whom we have given this honor bless you richly!!!

• 12/20 – 1 John 2:18-27 – What can strengthen my sense of belonging to my community and to Christ? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, I truly believe that you are the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Come and bring reconciliation and peace to this world.
• 12/21 – 1 John 2:28 – 3:10 – How can I take some time today to pray and recollect so that Christmas will take its deep spiritual meaning for me? Prayer starter: Glory to you, O God, in the highest, and may your love for humankind be celebrated everywhere on earth on this day.
• 12/22 – 1 John 3:11-24 – How can I tell that my love is not a question of “Words or speech” but of “truth and action”? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, I want your love to abide in me and to rule over all of my dealings with others.
• 12/23 – 1 John 4:1-21 – What does the statement “God is love” mean to me and how does it affect my Way of looking at life and at people? Prayer starter: Lord God, we thank you for giving us messengers of your love like John. We pray to you for all those involved in the study, research, and teaching of theology.
• 12/24 – 1 John 5:1-21 – After reading this first letter of John, what have I gained in my perception of God and in my understanding of faith? Prayer starter: We give you thanks, O Lord, for the gift of eternal life through your son, Jesus. Strengthen our faith in him, so that we can share in his victory over evil.
• 12/25 – 2 John 1-13 – If I were to Write a short note like John’s to express my own faith in Christ, what would be the key words or phrases? Prayer starter: Help us, O Lord, to walk in your commandments and to find complete joy in the keeping of your word.
• 12/26 – 3 John 1-15 – What can I do in my community to foster greater enthusiasm and to spread the Good News of Christ? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, may your joy abide in us and, through our lives, reach out to the world.

• 12/13 – 1 Peter 4:1-19 – What is my reaction to suffering, whether mine or that of people I know and love? Prayer starter: Lord, thy will be done, even when it involves suffering. Increase my love for you so that only good will come out of all I have to suffer in life.
• 12/14 – 1 Peter 5:1-14 – What can I do to support and assist the leaders in my own community? Prayer starter: You are, O Lord, our Shepherd who cares for each one of us. Support and strengthen those who have been appointed to tend your flock.
• 12/15 – 2 Peter 1:1-21 – Are we acting as people who have been set free? Prayer starter: We thank you, O Lord, for calling us to be part of your kingdom and for fulfilling all your promises through the life and death of our Savior Jesus Christ.
• 12/16 – 2 Peter 2:1-22 – What are my criteria for discerning between true and false prophets? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, you came not to judge, but to save the world. Help us to discem your call to mercy and salvation through the prophets and apostles you send to us.
• 12/17 – 2 Peter 3:1-16 – What is my visions of the end of time? Are my hopes greater than my apprehensions? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, you are the Alpha and the Omega. We praise you and we thank you for being with us always till the end of time.
• 12/18 – 1 John 1:1-10 – How can we say that we believe in a God who “is light”? Prayer starter: O God, we thank you for letting your light shine through your creation, and for illuminating our lives through the words and deeds of your beloved son, Jesus.
• 12/19 – 1 John 2:1-17 – How is my knowledge or experience of God reflected in my daily life? Prayer starter: We cannot see you or touch you, O Lord, but we know you from what you have done in creation and through history, and we praise you for being a God of love and mercy.

• 12/6 – James 5:7-20 – Do l allow my prayer to God to express my doubts and my questions about my own suffering or the suffering of my dearest ones? Prayer starter: Give us, O Lord Jesus, enduring and joyful hope even in the midst of suffering and hardships.
• 12/7 – 1 Peter 1:1-12 – How do I look at the future? With anxiety and fear or with a deep sense of hope? Prayer starter: Blessed are you, O Lord, for the unfading hope your Son has gained for us in his resurrection from the dead.
• 12/8 – 1 Peter 1:13-25 – How can the reading of the Old Testament help us understand our call to rebirth and holiness? Prayer starter: Your word, O Lord, is our greatest source of hope. Help us keep this hope alive through our love for you and for our neighbor.
• 12/9 – 1 Peter 2:1-10 – How can I build up my life into a spiritual home? Prayer starter: We praise you and thank you, O Lord, for calling us to be your people and for building us into a spiritual home where you and your Son may abide.
• 12/10 – 1 Peter 2:11-25 – What do I consider today as being the most serious threat to freedom? Prayer starter: Lord, you want us to live as free people. Deliver us from any evil that keeps us away hom the freedom your Son has gained for us.
• 12/11 – 1 Peter 3:1-12 – How does Scripture help me to overcome prejudices and discrimination against people on the basis of sex, race, or culture? Prayer starter: Lord of life, deliver us from our prejudices and help us to seek peace and harmony in our human relationships.
• 12/12 – 1 Peter 3:13-22 – How can I account for my faith and my hope to people I know who suffer from chronic illness or deadly sickness? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, you have taken upon you all our human suffering. You have healed the sick. Help us to be compassionate and give relief to people who suffer in their bodies and their souls.

• 11/29 – Exodus 35,36:1-7 – How can you be generous toward God and other people? Prayer starter: Generous God, may the work of my hands be valuable in your sight. May all that I do each day reveal you to others.
• 11/30 – Exodus 40 – How has God’s music filled my life? Prayer starter: Ever-present God, help me to realize that you dwell in me and in all of creation. Help me to constantly experience your indwelling.
• 12/1 – Exodus 27,28 – How is God dwelling in you? Prayer starter: Compassionate and caring God, may my worship deepen my love for you and lead me to a deeper experience of you. May the tangible objects with which I worship you reveal your presence.
• 12/2 – Exodus 29:1-9, Exodus 30,31 – Do I begin and close my day by making an offering to God? Prayer starter: Ever-present God, receive my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings. May my life be an acceptable sacrifice to you.
• 12/3 – Exodus 32 – In what areas of my life do I stand in need of God’s forgiveness? Do I seek it? Prayer starter: Compassionate God, forgive me for my failures and sins. Help me to continue to forgive and to be reconciled with you and all who are part of my life.
• 12/4- Exodus 33 – How do you seek to see the face of God in your life and in the world? Prayer starter: Gracious and compassionate God, forgive me for being stiff-necked. Help me to remain faithful to you and to avoid the idols of the world.
• 12/5 – Exodus 34 – How have I experienced God’s mercy, kindness, and forgiveness toward me? Prayer starter: Ha ve mercy on me faithful, forgiving, and just God. I entrust myself to you and ask that you give me the grace to retum to you and repair my relationship with you.