Week of December 8-14
ADVENT II
WORK AS RULE OF LIFE
Sunday, December 8
Opening Prayer:
A prophet is a [person] who in a particular, earthshaking moment in their life knows themselves seized and called by God, and now they can do no other than go among people and proclaim the will of God. Their calling has become the turning point of their life, and there is only one thing left for them to do: to follow this calling, even if it may lead them into misfortune or into death. … The genuine prophet is not the one who always cries peace, peace and victory, but the one who has the courage to proclaim disaster, says Jeremiah (Jer. 23:9ff).[1]—Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Silence
Prayers of Thanksgiving:
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:3)
Who do you give thanks to God for whenever you remember them?
The Lord’s Prayer
Scripture Reading:
Luke 3:1-6
In contrast to the genealogy of Jesus offered in various Gospels, why does the writer of Luke begin the introduction of John’s prophetic ministry with a “genealogy” of temporal and spiritual rulers?
Prayers of Intercession:
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1.68–79)
What areas of our lives do we need the tender compassion of our God to break upon like the dawn from on high?
Closing Prayer
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Sunday Lectionary: Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6
Monday, December 9
Opening Prayer:
We arrange our lives as best we can,
To keep your holiness at bay,
with our pieties,
our doctrines,
our liturgies,
our moralities,
our secret ideologies,
Safe, virtuous, settled.
And then you –
You and your dreams,
You and your visions,
You and your purposes,
You and your commands,
You and our neighbors.
We find you not at bay,
But probing, pervading,
Insisting, demanding.
And we yield, sometimes gladly,
Sometimes resentfully,
Sometimes late … or soon.
We yield because you, beyond us, are God.
We are your creatures met by your holiness,
By your holiness made our true selves.
And we yield. Amen.[2]
Silence (2 minutes)
Benedictus (together)
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1.68–79)
Prayers of Thanksgiving:
Like Paul, we give thanks for all of you, constantly remembering your works of faith, labors of love, and steadfastness of hope as we watch and wait together in the name of Jesus the Christ. (1 Thes. 1:2-3).
What praises and thanksgivings do we offer to the living and true God?
The Lord’s Prayer
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 5:8-12
The Prophet sings a song of God’s love for God’s vineyard. But the love song sours when the vineyard is polluted by greed and deceit. In our topsy-turvy world, when we heed the Prophet where must we be on guard in our own lives to recognize evil and not call it good or call the darkness light?
Prayers of Intercession:
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sin. (Ps. 25:16-18)
Where do we need God’s grace in our lives? What troubles of our hearts do we lift to God?
Closing Prayer
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Daily Office Lectionary: Psalm 25; Isaiah 5:8-12, 18-23; 1 Thess. 5:1-11; Luke 21:20-28
Tuesday, December 10
Opening Prayer:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of the God in Jesus Christ for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despite the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thes. 5:16-22).
Silence (2 minutes)
Benedictus (together)
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1.68–79)
Prayers of Thanksgiving:
Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard the sound of my pleadings. The Lord is my strength and my shield. In him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. (Ps. 28:6-7)
For what joys do we sing and exult in God today?
The Lord’s Prayer
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 5:13-17, 24-25
God’s love song for God’s vineyard turns to lament over its inhabitants deeds. What warnings should we heed as we watch and wait this Advent?
Prayers of Intercession:
Beloved, pray for us. (1 Thes. 5:25)
What needs of our own, our neighbor, and our world do we lift in prayer today?
Closing Prayer
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Daily Office Lectionary: Psalm 26 & 28; Isaiah 5:13-17, 24-25; 1 Thess. 5:12-28; Luke 21:29-38
Wednesday, December 11
Opening Prayer:
“Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not be far from me; make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.” (Psalm 38:21-22).
Silence (2 minutes)
Benedictus (together)
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1.68–79)
Prayers of Thanksgiving:
I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him.… And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.’” (Isaiah 6:1-3)
For what do we give thanks to God, who is still filling the Earth with God’s glory?
The Lord’s Prayer
Scripture Reading:
John 7:53-8:11
At whom do we cast stones, when we are no different from them? In what ways in our place and time are we called to ask others to lay down their stones?
Prayers of Intercession:
“To this end, we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will by his power will fulfill every good resolve and work of faith.” (2 Thess. 1:11)
Who do we pray for today? Where in our lives do we need resolve and the work of faith?
Closing Prayer
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Daily Office Lectionary: Psalm 38; Isaiah 6:1-13; 2 Thess. 1:1-12; John 7:53-8:11
Thursday, December 12
Opening Prayer:
Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those that carry out evil deeds. Refrain from anger, and forsake warth. Do not fret—it leads only to evil. For the wicked will be cut off, but those who wait upon the Lord shall inherit the land. (Psalm 37:7-9).
Silence (2 minutes)
Benedictus (together)
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1.68–79)
Prayers of Thanksgiving:
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:3-4)
What thanks do we lift to God, who longs to give you the desires of your heart?
The Lord’s Prayer
Scripture Reading:
Luke 22:1-13
The preparation of a Passover meal immediately brings to mind the Exodus, with its liberation of the marginalized and oppressed people of God by Pharoh. If Christ’s three-fold coming in Advent (birth by Mary, birth in us today, birthing a New Creation with his awaited coming) is like the Exodus for us today, then what preparations do we like Christ’s disciples need to make?
Prayers of Intercession:
Sometimes when we are afraid and our hearts shake as the trees of the forest do before the wind, God sends a Word of hope. (Isaiah 7:1-9)
Where in our lives do we need Words of Hope? Where are we called to be the Living Word of Hope for others?
Closing Prayer
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Daily Office Lectionary: Psalm 37:1-18; Isaiah 7:1-9; 2 Thess. 2:1-12; Luke 22:1-13
Friday, December 13
Opening Prayer:
In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. (Psalm 31:1-2)
Silence (2 minutes)
Benedictus (together)
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1.68–79)
Prayers of Thanksgiving:
Then Jesus took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:17-19)
Jesus prepares a table for his friends while in the presence of their adversaries, and then he gave thanks. Even if we feel beset, can we too give thanks to God and remember the example of the Christ, who seeks to be born anew in us?
The Lord’s Prayer
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 7:10-25
Are there areas that God wants to give us a Word and we resist, wearying both God and mortals?
Prayers of Intercession:
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes waste from grief, my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery and my bones waste away. (Psalm 31:9-10)
Where do we need God’s grace to restore our minds, bodies, and souls?
Closing Prayer
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Daily Office Lectionary: Psalm 31; Isaiah 7:10-25; 2 Thess. 2:13-3:5; Luke 22:14-30
Saturday, December 14
Opening Prayer:
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let me foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. (Psalm 30:1-3)
Silence (2 minutes)
Benedictus (together)
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1.68–79)
Prayers of Thanksgiving:
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but a moment, his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping my linger for the night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:4-5)
What praises and thanks do we give to God this day of rest?
The Lord’s Prayer
Scripture Reading:
2 Thessalonians 3:6-18
Are there days we are weary of doing what is right? How do we keep that weariness from drifting into idleness both physically and spiritually?
Prayers of Intercession:
Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. (Psalm 32:5-7)
From what times of distress do we or our friends need deliverance?
Closing Prayer
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Daily Office Lectionary: Psalm 30,32; Isaiah 8:1-15; 2 Thess. 3:6-18; Luke 22:31-38
[1] Dietrich Bonhoeffer Werke. Vol. 10, Barcelona, Berlin, Amerika 1928-1931. Eds. Hans Christoph von Hase and Reinhart Staats (Gutersloh: Chr. Kaiser/Guttersloher Verlagshaus, 1991), 288.
[2] Searcy, Edwin, ed. “Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann,” p. 3.
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