an Epiphany home blessing
asking God's blessing for 2024
Christians in the Western Church, especially in Germany--where this custom may have started, have a tradition of blessing their homes on Epiphany (January 6th) by marking the home's main doorway with chalk. The family gathers to ask God's blessing for the next year on their homes, their families, and all who come and go from . . .
Posted in: prayers
first Sunday of Christmas (2023)
contemplating collects
ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure, that in the Name of Thy beloved Son, we may be made to abound in good works; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
-- Common Service Book . . .
Posted in: collects
Christmas day (2023)
contemplating collects
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the new Birth of Thine Only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
-- . . .
Posted in: collects
the Nativity of our Lord (2023)
contemplating collects
(Note: Since the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve coincide this year, tradition in some places is to give the collect for Christmas Eve/the Nativity of our Lord precedence.)
O God, Who hast made this most holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant, we beseech Thee, that as we have known . . .
third Sunday of Advent (2023)
contemplating collects
LORD, we beseech Thee, give ear to our prayers, and lighten the darkness of our hearts, by Thy gracious visitation; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
-- Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church
And when John had heard in prison about the . . .
second Sunday of Advent (2023)
contemplating collects
STIR up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Thine Only-Begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds; Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
-- Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church
“And there . . .
advent: on learning to wait
(this is an updated version of a post I originally wrote in 2017)
In a letter to his fiancee Maria von Wedmeyer written in a Nazi prison in December 1943, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote:
Celebrating Advent means being able to wait. Waiting is an art that our impatient age has forgotten...Whoever does not know the . . .
Posted in: advent
Cover image credit: http://unsplash.com/@jean_vella
