Christmas daybook, 2: Hallelujah!

My Christmas daybook for these 12 days of celebrating. Join me, won't you?  (see previous Christmas daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

Girls Chorus
Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky, 1916
source

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read as a prayer

Psalm 148 (MSG): 

1-5 Hallelujah!

Praise God from heaven,
    praise him from the mountaintops;
Praise him, all you his angels,
    praise him, all you his warriors,
Praise him, sun and moon,
    praise him, you morning stars;
Praise him, high heaven,
    praise him, heavenly rain clouds;
Praise, oh let them praise the name of God—
    he spoke the word, and there they were!

6 He set them in place
    from all time to eternity;
He gave his orders,
    and that’s it!

7-12 Praise God from earth,
    you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps;
Fire and hail, snow and ice,
    hurricanes obeying his orders;
Mountains and all hills,
    apple orchards and cedar forests;
Wild beasts and herds of cattle,
    snakes, and birds in flight;
Earth’s kings and all races,
    leaders and important people,
Robust men and women in their prime,
    and yes, graybeards and little children.

13-14 Let them praise the name of God—
    it’s the only Name worth praising.
His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky;
    he’s built a monument—his very own people!

Praise from all who love God!
    Israel’s children, intimate friends of God.
Hallelujah!

all readings for the day: Psalm 148; 2 Chronicles 24:17-24; Acts 6:1-7; 7:51-60

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listen

O Come All Ye Faithful

The St Philips Boy's Choir

(Also, feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Christmastide playlist . If you're looking for sappy, even sometimes cheesy, but fun Christmas music try my Christmas Eve (for my Momma) playlist. )

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do

Also: read about the Feast of Saint Stephen, held on December 26th (also Boxing Day) in honor of the first martyr of the Church

also this: Why the feast of Stephen, the first Christian martyr is so apt this year

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pray

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God in glory everlasting. Amen. (source)

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In case you missed it, here's a helpful post I wrote a couple of years ago: 12 ways to savor the 12 days of Christmas.

(see all Christmas daybook posts from 2014 here)