Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to
be still before God.
Opening Prayer: Almighty God, who came to us long ago in the
birth of Jesus Christ, be born in us anew today by the power of your Holy
Spirit. We offer our lives as home to
you and ask for grace and strength to live as your faithful, joyful children
always. Through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen. (A Guide to Prayer for
Ministers and Other Servants)
Scripture Reading for the Day: Philippians 2:1-13
Reading for Reflection:
O Jesus, how far down you had to come to
reach us. How small and how low. Can anyone really comprehend the
magnitude of that downward journey? You, who had always enjoyed true
delight, the loving intimacy of the Trinity, were willing to step out of the
ecstasy of that intimacy because of your great desire to bring us into
it. You, who were in very nature God, laid aside your
Divine privilege and position to become a man of sorrows, despised and
rejected by men. You, the Eternal One, willing to become a mere
mortal. You, the Creator of all, willing to become one of the created.
O the great sacrifice! O the immense love!
You, O Christ, emptied yourself of more than we can ever comprehend or
imagine. You, O Christ, made yourself of no reputation (Phil 2:7
KJV). And you, O Christ, have given us
an example, that we might do the same. Lord
Jesus, during this season when we celebrate your stepping down out of the
throne room of heaven to become one of us, show us what this emptying looks
like for each of us in the days ahead.
Reflection and Listening: silent and written
Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself
Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself
Closing Prayer: O Lord, as we come to the end of another year, as we reflect on all that has been and look ahead to all that will be, help us to know what we need to empty ourselves of in order to have this mind among ourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. For your glory. Amen.
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