Daily Prayer for the Fourth Tuesday in Advent

​“Shepherds in the fields abiding, watching o’er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing, yonder shines the infant light…”        
                                               —-James Montgomery, 1816

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                                                           Romans 16:25-27
The mystery of the ages is now revealed.
To God be the glory forever!  Amen.

Prayer                                                               Worship Sourcebook, CRC, 2013
If our lives are dry and parched,
Lord, send the living waters of your Spirit
to revive us, to enliven us,
to bring forth new life.
Immanuel, come quickly.

If our times are empty and barren,
Lord, grant us a rich harvest,
send us home with sheaves of blessing,
fill us with your abundance,
and teach us to share the harvest with others.
Immanuel, come quickly.

If our bodies are weary and heavy laden,
Lord, fill us with laughter;
give us shouts of joy;
envelop us with your gladness.
Immanuel, come quickly.

If our lives are small and trivial,
Lord make us see great things;
enlarge our vision;
widen our borders.
Immanuel, come quickly.   

Hymn of the Day                            
O Holy Night, sung by Tracy Chapman.  Listen and pray. 

Reading of the Day                                                               Isaiah 7:10-16
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. 13 Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

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 drug companies distributing vaccine, that they would work efficiently and safely.  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!