🔔
I join with all who are praying *
to the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayer
Deep in the night the voice of the waves on the shore announced to us: Christ is born! Son of the King of kings from the land of salvation, the mountains glowed to Him, the plains glowed to Him, then shone the sun on the mountains high to Him. All hail, let there be joy.
God the Lord has opened a Door. Christ of hope, Door of joy! Son of Mary, hasten Thou to help me: In me, Lord Christ, let there be joy.
- Celtic Daily Prayer
Observe a time of silence before the Lord
(1 – 5 minutes)
🔔
Scriptural Theme
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be unto me as you have said."
Sing to the Lord a song of praise
(acapella, or accompanied by instruments / recorded music)
🔔
Praying Luke 1:26-38 (New International Version - 1984)
In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, *
"Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail." *
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as You have said."
Response to the Scripture
Father God, we would not know you but that You revealed yourself to us. We agree with the testimony of Heaven that Jesus is your true and divine son. Through him and by him we can know you, love you and approach you with confidence.
Draw near to God’s throne of grace
with the thanksgivings, prayers, & intercessions that are on your heart
🔔
The Spirit and the Bride say *
“Come!”
Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly. *
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be unto me as you have said."
Praise / prayer / silence / sing a new song
(follow the leading of the Holy Spirit)
🔔
Ending Prayer
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
- Anglican Book of Common Prayer
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
( Adapted by Christ the Reconciler from Season 2: Christmas Bridge Prayer – “The Joy of Longing Fulfilled” )