Christmas daybook, 12: love your enemies

My Christmas daybook for these 12 days of celebrating. Join me, won't you? (see all of the Christmas daybook posts from 2014 here)

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look

 

The Christmas Truce of WWI

Click the play icon to hear the story

source

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read

Luke 6:27-31: love your enemies

{all readings for the day: Psalm 110; Proverbs 22:1-9; Luke 6:27-31 }

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pray 

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (source)

Open our eyes, that we may see the wonders of your law. Amen.

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listen

Love Came Down at Christmas

Holy City Hymns/Songs for the Incarnation

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do

Choose one person (or group) to forgive, to release from your expectation of apology or restitution.  If appropriate, write them a note passing the peace of Christ through a simple few words.

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Christmas daybook, 11: honor the Lord with your wealth

My Christmas daybook for these 12 days of celebrating. Join me, won't you? (see all of the Christmas daybook posts from 2014 here)

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look

Adoration of the Kings

James B. Janknegt

source

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read

Proverbs 3:1-12: honor the Lord with your wealth

{all readings for the day: Psalm 110; Proverbs 3:1-12; James 4:11-17 }

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pray 

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (source)

O Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come unto you. Thanks be to God.

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listen

O Come All Ye Faithful

Folk Angel

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make

at dinner today, make a list of all the places you will honor the Lord with your wealth of money, time, talents, home, skills and knowledge this year 

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Christmas daybook, 10: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you

My Christmas daybook for these 12 days of celebrating. Join me, won't you? (see all of the Christmas daybook posts from 2014 here)

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look

Crib made of an old fruit crate propped near a cold stove

W. Eugene Smith's 1951 photo essay for Time-Life about South Carolina nurse midwife Maude Callen 

source

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read

James 4:1-10: Draw near to God and he will draw near to you

{all readings for the day: Psalm 110; Proverbs 1:20-33; James 4:1-10 }

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pray 

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (source)

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Amen.

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listen

What Child Is This? | Listen for free at bop.fm

What Child Is This?

Mahalia Jackson

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do

draw near to warmth today -- a fire place, a blanket, a good friend, a hot drink

12 ways to savor the 12 days of Christmas

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Christmas daybook, 9: a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

My Christmas daybook for these 12 days of celebrating. Join me, won't you? (see all of the Christmas daybook posts from 2014 here)

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look

Canon Andrew White, the Vicar of Baghdad

Charles LePlae, Antwerp

source

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read

James 3:13-18: a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace

{all readings for the day: Psalm 148; Proverbs 1:1-7; James 3:13-18 }

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pray 

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (source)

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Amen.

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listen

Peace is Here

Jars of Clay

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do

have you read all the Christmas stories you wanted to this year?  

12 ways to savor 12 days of Christmas

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Christmas daybook, 8: For everything there is a season

My Christmas daybook for these 12 days of celebrating. Join me, won't you? (see all of the Christmas daybook posts from 2014 here)

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look

A Forest Year

Time-lapse by Samuel Orr

source

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read

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13: For everything there is a season

{all readings for the day: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; 
Psalm 8; Revelation 21:1-6a; Matthew 25:31-46 }

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pray 

At the beginning of this new year, we implore God's blessing upon our work and join with the Church across time and space in Prayers of the People.

With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying, "Lord, have mercy."

For the peace from above, for the loving kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For our Bishop [name], and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord. 

Lord, have mercy.

For our President Barack Obama, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For this city (town, village, _______), for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the aged and infirm, especially [names], for the widowed and orphans, especially [names], and for the sick and suffering, especially [names], let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the poor and the oppressed, especially [names], for the unemployed and the destitute, especially [names], for prisoners and captives, especially [names], and for all who remember and care for them, especially [names], let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.

Lord, have mercy.

For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, especially [names], let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the absolution and remission of our sins and offenses, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering and without reproach, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Defend us, deliver us, and in they compassion protects us, O Lord, by thy grace.

Lord, have mercy.

In the communion of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.

To thee, O Lord our God.

Throughout all time you have blessed your people, O God, and dwelt among them. On the first day of this new year, inspire and guide us, that all we do may find in you its beginning and fulfillment. Amen. (source and source)

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listen

Canticle of the Turning | Listen for free at bop.fm

Canticle of the Turning

Buddy Greene

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do

gather the Christmas cards you received this year and add 
the names to those you include in The Prayers of the People 

12 ways to savor 12 days of Christmas

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Christmas daybook, 7: I am the light of the world

My Christmas daybook for these 12 days of celebrating. Join me, won't you? (see all of the Christmas daybook posts from 2014 here)

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look

Merry Christmas from Trent Elders on Vimeo.

Colored Pencil Drawings in Circles of Darkness

Six and seven-year-old students at Church of the Servant, Grand Rapids, MI

source

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read

John 8:12-19: I am the light of the world

{all readings for the day: Psalm 148; 1 Kings 3:5-14; John 8:12-19 }

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pray 

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (source)

Even so, come Lord Jesus! Amen.

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listen

O Nata Lux 
("O Light Born of Light", translation here)

Thomas Tallis

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do

walk outside after dark, seeking light (like this luminaria in our neighborhood)

12 ways to savor the 12 days of Christmas

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