12/6 Advent daybook, 8: Prepare the way of the Lord

My Advent daybook for these 24 days of waiting. Join me, won't you? (see previous Advent daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

John the Baptist in the Wilderness
Geertgen, 1460-1495
source

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read

Luke 3:1-6: "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' "

all readings for the day: Malachi 3:1-4 • Luke 1:68-79 • Philippians 1:3-11 • Luke 3:1-6

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pray

God of hope, you raised up John the baptizer as a herald who calls us to repentance. As we joyfully await the glorious coming of Christ, we pray to you for the needs of the church, the world, our neighbors and our families: 

Spend a few moments praying for those you know who are waiting and finding it hard, concluding with: 

Hear our humble prayer that we may serve you in holiness and faith and give voice to your presence among us until the day of the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. (source)

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listen

Every Valley (It's Hard to Wait)

Rain for Roots

(Also, feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Advent playlist on Spotify.)

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do

Celebrate the very real and very good man named Saint Nicholas today. 

Two links (from two great mamas!) for a good introduction:

•  Celebrating Saint Nicholas, the real Santa Claus @ Art of Simple
• Beautiful Christmas, Beautiful Traditions @ Cha-Ching on a Shoestring

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Advent calendar in photos via Ambrosium

(see all Advent daybook posts from 2014 here)

Advent daybook, 7: the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings

My Advent daybook for these 24 days of waiting. Join me, won't you? (see previous Advent daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

You Do It To Me
John Petts
16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama
via The Advent Project 

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read
Malachi 4:1-6: But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.

all readings for the day: Luke 1:68-79; Malachi 4:1-6; Luke 9:1-6

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pray

O God of all the prophets, you herald the coming of the Son of Man by wondrous signs in the heavens and on earth. Guard our hearts from despair so that we, in the company of the faithful and by the power of your Holy Spirit, may be found ready to raise our heads at the coming near of our redemption, the day of Jesus Christ. Amen. (source)

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listen

He's My LIght

Mahalia Jackson

(Also, feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Advent playlist or a growing Advent Orchestral/Choral playlist on Spotify.)

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do

help someone who needs it (friend or stranger) today

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(see all Advent daybook posts from 2014 here)

Advent daybook, 6: Zachariah prophesies

My Advent daybook for these 24 days of waiting. Join me, won't you? (see previous Advent daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

Sts. Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents of the Precious Forerunner

source

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Luke 1:68-79: [Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied], Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people [...] as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us... (read more here)

all readings for the day: Luke 1:68-79; Malachi 3:13-18; Philippians 1:18b-26

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pray

O God of all the prophets, you herald the coming of the Son of Man by wondrous signs in the heavens and on earth. Guard our hearts from despair so that we, in the company of the faithful and by the power of your Holy Spirit, may be found ready to raise our heads at the coming near of our redemption, the day of Jesus Christ. Amen. (source)

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listen

Long Ago, Prophets Knew

Choir of the King's School

(Also, feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Advent playlist or a growing Advent Orchestral/Choral playlist on Spotify.)

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do

enjoy some delicious mulled cider today (and fill your house with its aroma!)

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(see all Advent daybook posts from 2014 here)

Advent daybook, 5: guide our feet in the way of peace

My Advent daybook for these 24 days of waiting. Join me, won't you? (see previous Advent daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

The Peaceable Kingdom (after Edward Hicks' Peaceable Kingdom)
Doug Jaques / CIVA exhibit
source

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read

Luke 1:68-79: ...because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

all readings for the day: Luke 1:68-79; Malachi 3:5-12; Philippians 1:12-18a

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pray

O God of all the prophets, you herald the coming of the Son of Man by wondrous signs in the heaven and on the earth. Guard our hearts from despair so that we, in the company of the faithful and by the power of your Holy Spirit, may be found ready to raise our heads at the coming near of our redemption, the day of Jesus Christ. Amen. (source)

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listen

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Hey Rosetta! 

(Also, feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Advent playlist or a growing Advent Orchestral/Choral playlist on Spotify.)

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do

forgo electricity for part or all of the evening; notice the light breaking the darkness

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(see all Advent daybook posts from 2014 here)

Advent daybook, 4: Zion shall be redeemed by justice

My Advent daybook for these 24 days of waiting. Join me, won't you? (see previous Advent daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem with the Temple Mount's Dome of the Rock.
source

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read

Isaiah 1:24-31: Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness.

all readings for the day:  Psalm 90; Isaiah 1:24-31; Luke 11:29-32

Also read: Global Anglican prayer focused on Jerusalem, 2015 (via Anglican Communion News Service)

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pray

Litany for Peace in the Holy Land

O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, 

Have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

Have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

Grant us your peace.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the birth in Bethlehem of the Word made flesh, your Son, Jesus Christ; who dwelt among us full of grace and truth.

For your love and your goodness

We give you thanks, O God

We thank you for his life; his death here in Jerusalem as he carried our sins and suffering, and for his glorious Resurrection in which he gave us new life with him.

For your love and your goodness

We give you thanks, O God

We thank you for entrusting to us the ministry of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace-making for the healing of your creation.

For your love and your goodness

We give you thanks, O God

We pray for all victims of bloodshed, violence, and persecution. We especially pray for all in danger and those fleeing persecution in the Holy Land, and throughout the Middle East.

Lord, hear our prayer

And let our cry come unto you

We pray for all who grieve for those they have loved and lost as a result of violence, particularly those grieving in Palestine and Israel.

Lord, hear our prayer

And let our cry come unto you

We pray for the Holy Spirit to guide all leaders, especially on those who lead the peoples in the Land of the Holy One, the United Nations and upon all in authority, so Your people may seek ways of peace and justice.

Lord, hear our prayer

And let our cry come unto you

Heavenly Father, we praise and glorify you. You are our only refuge in a troubled world.

Lord, hear our prayer

And let our cry come unto you

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

Lord God Almighty, 

you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: 

Give to us and the people of all the nations a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance,

that all of your people may use their liberty in accordance with your gracious will; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 

Amen.

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listen

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

Abraham Juliot

(Feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Advent playlist or a growing Advent Orchestral/Choral playlist on Spotify.)

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do

Do good when you shop 

• Ethical Shopping Guide at Art of Simple 

• If you live in Austin, come to the Allies Against Slavery Christmas Market this Saturday (a venue for patrons to shop while supporting local, socially conscious vendors)

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(see all Advent daybook posts from 2014 here)

Advent daybook, 3: your people Israel to be your people forever

My Advent daybook for these 24 days of waiting. Join me, won't you? (see previous Advent daybook 2015 posts here)

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watch

O Little Town of Bethlehem from Tim Parsons on Vimeo.

The story of the birth of Jesus told by the people of Bethlehem.

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read

2 Samuel 7:18-29: And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God.

{all readings for the day: Psalm 90; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; Revelation 22:12-16 }

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pray

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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listen

Behold, a Branch is Growing

Koine'

Read lyrics here.

(Also, feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Advent playlist on Spotify.)

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do

share the gift of food with someone today

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(see all Advent daybook posts from 2014 here)