Prepare the Way: Advent Daybook, 18
Take a few deep breaths, settle your body, mind, and heart into a quiet space, and let’s begin with prayer.
Pray: Heavenly Father, make me more like Jesus as I sit in your loving presence today. Please guide my thoughts and impressions with your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Look: A pregnant woman carries water as she takes refuge at a camp after leaving her flood-hit homes in Jaffarabad, a district of Baluchistan province, Pakistan, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. AP Photo/Zahid - Source
Listen: Mary's Song (Our King of Peace), Wendell Kimbrough, feat. Page CXVI - Bandcamp w/ lyrics | Spotify | YouTube
Read: Psalm 119:49-72; Psalm 49; Isaiah 9:8-17; 2 Peter 2:1-10a; Mark 1:1-8
Excerpts:
"Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp."
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"Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. Before I was humbled I went astray, but now I keep your word. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. The arrogant smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts. Their hearts are thick like fat, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces."
*
"So the Lord raised adversaries against them and stirred up their enemies,the Arameans on the east and the Philistines on the west, and they devoured Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still.
The people did not turn to him who struck them or seek the Lord of hosts. So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day—elders and dignitaries are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail, for those who led this people led them astray, and those who were led by them were left in confusion."
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"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions. They will even deny the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Even so, many will follow their debaucheries, and because of these teachers the way of truth will be maligned. And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced against them long ago, has not been idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
…then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial and to keep the unrighteous until the day of judgment, when they will be punished —especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust and who despise authority.
Bold and willful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones,"
*
"As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight,’ ”
so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
- Psalm 49:1-4 * Psalm 119:66-72 * Isaiah 9:12-16 * 2 Peter 2:1-3, 9-10 * Mark 1:2-8
Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Prayers of the People (Form VI)
On Wednesdays, through Advent, we’ll practice an intercessory prayer method called “Prayers of the People”. This comprehensive format of call and response guides us through each sphere of our world with specific prayer. If you’re praying with a friend or family member, one of you can read the first part (the bidding) and one can read the second part (the response).
“In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
Silence
For all people in their daily life and work; For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.
For this community, the nation, and the world; For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
For the just and proper use of your creation; For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble; For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God; For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
For our church leaders; and all other ministers; For all who serve God in his Church.
For the special needs and concerns of our congregation.
Silence
Add your own requests and petitions: ____________.
Hear us, Lord; For your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.
Silence
Add your own thanksgivings: ________________.
We will exalt you, O God our King; And praise your Name for ever and ever.
We think of all who have died in Christ, and thank you that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.
Silence
Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them; Who put their trust in you.
We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.
Silence
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; in your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone; and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Silence
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. Alleluia!”
Do: Give money to relief efforts for the flooding in Pakistan.
*Sunday Scripture readings are taken from Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary. Daily Scripture readings are taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and include both Morning and Evening Psalms (Year 1).