Daily Prayer for the Fourth Monday in Advent

“Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth; ye who sang creations’s story now proclaim Messiah’s birth…”        
                                                       —-Paul Gerhardt, 1653

Preparation for worship
Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit.  Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship…

Opening Sentences                                                                     Isaiah 7:14
Look!  The young woman is with child;
she will call him Emmanuel, for God is with us.

Prayer                                               Book of Common Worship, PC(USA), 2018
God of grace,
your eternal Word took flesh among us
when Mary placed her life
at the service of your will.
Prepare our hearts for his coming again;
keep us steadfast in hope
and faithful in service,
that we may receive the coming of his kingdom
for the sake of Jesus Christ, the ruler of all,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.  Amen.    

Hymn of the Day                            
Hallelujah Chorus, by G.F. Handel, performed by the South Kitsap High School Choir, Port Orchard, WA.  “The Silent Monks”.  

Reading of the Day                                                           Matthew 1:18-25
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Prayers for self and others
Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID-19 and by its side effects in our world.  Pray for the thousands who are still being diagnosed positive in the U.S. each day, for Denie and her husband Francisco; for Susan Smith’s brother-in-law John, who is still hospitalized with the virus after five weeks, and for Susan’s sister, who can’t visit him; for Delphine Zarsky’s niece’s family; for Becky’s friend Vanessa, whose husband died from the virus; for Gloria Thomas’s granddaughter Lauren and her friend Seth; for Brandon Jantzen and his family; for David Lewallen’s son-in-law; for Debbie Battisse-Kleinman, pastor of the Indian Presbyterian Church in Livingston, and her family; and for Rev. Scott and Debbie Harbison, friends of the Downs family.  As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here. Pray today for doctors who still haven’t been able to receive the vaccine, that they would remain safe.  Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God.

Benediction
May the God of glory,
the Word of life,
and the Spirit of truth
bless you all, now and forever.  Alleluia!