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I join with all who are praying *
to the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayer
Glad is the world and fair this night
With stars about its head,
And the hall is filled with laughter and light,
And fires are burning red.*
The bells of Paradise now ring
With bells of Christendom,
And Gloria, Gloria we will sing
That God on earth is come.
- JRR Tolkien
Observe a time of silence before the Lord
(1 – 5 minutes)
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Scriptural Theme
She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, because he will save his people from their sins.
Sing to the Lord a song of praise
(acapella, or accompanied by instruments / recorded music)
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Praying Matthew 1:18-25 (Complete Jewish Bible)
Here is how the birth of Yeshua the Messiah took place. When his mother Miryam was engaged to Yosef, before they were married, she was found to be pregnant from the Ruach HaKodesh. Her husband-to-be, Yosef, was a man who did what was right; so he made plans to break the engagement quietly, rather than put her to public shame. But while he was thinking about this, an angel of Adonai appeared to him in a dream and said, *
"Yosef, son of David, do not be afraid to take Miryam home with you as your wife; for what has been conceived in her is from the Ruach HaKodesh. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, (which means 'YHWH' saves,) because he will save his people from their sins."
All this happened in order to fulfill what Adonai had said through the prophet, *
"The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him 'Immanu El.'" (The name means, "God is with us.")
When Yosef awoke he did what the angel of Adonai had told him to do -- he took Miryam home to be his wife, but he did not consummate their marriage until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Yeshua.
Response to the Scripture
Lo How a Rose e'er blooming, from tender stem hath sprung. Of Jesse's lineage coming as men of old have sung. It came a flower bright, amid the cold of winter, when half spent was the night.
Draw near to God’s throne of grace
with the thanksgivings, prayers, & intercessions that are on your heart
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The Spirit and the Bride say *
“Come!”
Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly. *
She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, because he will save his people from their sins.
Praise / prayer / silence / sing a new song
(follow the leading of the Holy Spirit)
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Ending Prayer
My lowly heart His manger bed
A place to lay His royal head,
Amidst the brokenness and strife
of my confused and empty life.
To bring His light, His hope, His gain
Into my life of guilt and pain,
To conquer all my fear and dread,
To come and be my Heavenly Bread.*
To shine His light on all that's true,
To feed and fill and make me new,
To give His Body for my own,
Flesh of His flesh, bone of His bone.
- Pat Bailey
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” )