A prayer by Bishop L. Jonathan Holston of the South Carolina Annual Conference, leading the United Methodist Church in “Praying Our Way Forward” for the week of December 24-30, 2017.
“And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11)
Loving God, we rejoice in the hope of the Christ child and confess our need to turn our hearts to You anew. As Mary wrestled with what it meant for her to bear Your son, so we wrestle with what it means to carry the good news of His arrival into today’s world.
During this Advent season, help us prepare our hearts, minds and spirits for the work You are doing in our midst. Particularly at this time in the life of our church, we earnestly seek Your will in the midst of deep division surrounding the work of the Commission on a Way Forward.
As we grapple with the complex issues before us, we pray that we will not lose sight of our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
We pray as Mary and Joseph must have prayed with the knowledge of the identity of the child they were given. As the shepherds fell down and worshiped at the angels’ song, we bow our heads in worship and praise of the Word made flesh to dwell among us. As the Wise Men earnestly sought You for many years prior to their journey to see the Christ child, we earnestly seek Your will for the people called United Methodist around the world.
In this Advent season, gracious God, we pray for our denomination, trusting that You are always near.
Hear the prayers of Your people, oh Lord, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Amen.---
The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Friday, 22 December 2017 "Do Not Be Afraid"
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017
"Do Not Be Afraid"
As we complete the final days of Advent and anticipate the coming of Christ in Christmas, we remember the fears of Mary and Joseph as they journeyed to Bethlehem to be registered and taxed. We remember the fear of the shepherds who were visited by the angels. What are the things we fear today? Take a few moments to reflect on this question for yourself; and, then each member of your family what they fear today. Listen deeply as they respond. Then ask them to remember the word of God found over and over in the Bible–do not be afraid.
“The angel said to Mary, ‘Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God’” (Luke 1:30).
“The angel said to the shepherds, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger’ (Luke 2:10-12).
The word of God—then and now—is, “Do not be afraid.” God wants us to live without fear. We are told this repeatedly in the Bible.
Faith in Christ delivers us from fear. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). Faith in God is both word and deed. God’s promise of a Saviour was fulfilled in the mystery of an infant. Nothing is impossible for God. Believe this and give thanks.
As we end the days of advent and enter into Christmas, we pray that you will do this without fear. Instead, we pray that you will be filled with the wonder of God’s love for each and every one of us, in Christ Jesus.
A Hymn by Charles Wesley (1745)
1. Away with our fears!
The Godhead appears
In Christ reconciled,
The Father of Mercies in Jesus the Child.
2. He comes from above,
n manifest love,
The desire of our eyes,
The meek Lamb of God, in a manger he lies.
3. At Immanuel’s birth
What a triumph on earth!
Yet could it afford
No better place for its heavenly Lord.
4. The Ancient of Days
To redeem a lost race,
From his glory comes down,
Self-humbled to carry us up to a crown.
5. Made flesh for our sake,
That we might partake
The nature divine,
And again in his image, his holiness shine;
6. An heavenly birth
Experience on earth,
And rise to his throne,
And live with our Jesus eternally one.
7. Then let us believe,
And gladly receive
The tidings they bring,
Who publish to sinners their Saviour and King.
8. And while we are here,
Our King shall appear,
His Spirit impart,
And form his full image of love in our heart.
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The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 20 December 2017 "Love and Prayer Filling the Heart"
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017
A Word from John Wesley
Q.12. Does, then, Christian perfection imply any more than sincerity?
A. Not if you mean by that word love filling the heart, expelling pride, anger, desire, self-will; rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks. But I doubt few use sincerity in this sense. Therefore, I think the old word is best.
You may be sincere with all your natural tempers—pride, anger, lust, self-will. But you are not perfect till your heart is cleansed from these, and all its other corruptions. (John Wesley, The Character of a Methodist, ¶25.)
A Hymn from Charles Wesley
1. Ye virgin souls arise,
With all the dead awake.
Unto salvation wise,
Oil in your vessels take:
Upstarting at the midnight cry,
Behold the heavenly bridegroom nigh.
2. He comes, he comes to call
The nations to his bar,
And raise to glory all
Who fit for glory are;
Made ready for your full reward,
Go forth with joy to meet your Lord.
3. Then let us wait to hear
The trumpet’s welcome sound,
To see our Lord appear,
Watching let us be found;
When Jesus doth the heavens bow,
Be found—as, Lord, thou find’st us now! (Collection-1781, #64)
Questions for Reflection:
God of hope, you call us home from the exile of selfish oppression to the freedom of justice, the balm of healing, and the joy of sharing. Make us strong to join you in your holy work, as friends of strangers and victims, companions of those whom others shun, and as the happiness of those whose hearts are broken. We make our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Wesley excerpts are from A Disciple’s Journal—2017: A Guide for Daily Prayer, Bible Reading, and Discipleship, by Steven W. Manskar. Copyright © 2017 Discipleship Resources, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The prayer is reprinted with permission from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002, Consultation on Common Texts.---
The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 20 December 2017 "Love and Prayer Filling the Heart"
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017
A Word from John Wesley
Q.12. Does, then, Christian perfection imply any more than sincerity?
A. Not if you mean by that word love filling the heart, expelling pride, anger, desire, self-will; rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks. But I doubt few use sincerity in this sense. Therefore, I think the old word is best.
You may be sincere with all your natural tempers—pride, anger, lust, self-will. But you are not perfect till your heart is cleansed from these, and all its other corruptions. (John Wesley, The Character of a Methodist, ¶25.)
A Hymn from Charles Wesley
1. Ye virgin souls arise,
With all the dead awake.
Unto salvation wise,
Oil in your vessels take:
Upstarting at the midnight cry,
Behold the heavenly bridegroom nigh.
2. He comes, he comes to call
The nations to his bar,
And raise to glory all
Who fit for glory are;
Made ready for your full reward,
Go forth with joy to meet your Lord.
3. Then let us wait to hear
The trumpet’s welcome sound,
To see our Lord appear,
Watching let us be found;
When Jesus doth the heavens bow,
Be found—as, Lord, thou find’st us now! (Collection-1781, #64)
Questions for Reflection:
- In John Wesley’s description of the character of a Methodist he makes it clear Christian perfection is a matter of the heart. Do you agree or disagree?
- What is the meaning of Charles Wesley’s hymn for us today?
- What is it that Charles invites us to wait for when he writes “Then let us wait to hear”?
God of hope, you call us home from the exile of selfish oppression to the freedom of justice, the balm of healing, and the joy of sharing. Make us strong to join you in your holy work, as friends of strangers and victims, companions of those whom others shun, and as the happiness of those whose hearts are broken. We make our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Wesley excerpts are from A Disciple’s Journal—2017: A Guide for Daily Prayer, Bible Reading, and Discipleship, by Steven W. Manskar. Copyright © 2017 Discipleship Resources, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The prayer is reprinted with permission from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002, Consultation on Common Texts.---
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