December 14 - Anna & Simeon in God’s House
(Luke 2: 25 & 36)
Revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah, a righteous and devout man in Jerusalem called Simeon, is waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit is upon him. There was also a prophet, Anna, who never leaves the temple but worships night and day, fasting and praying.
Pray now for those who have nowhere to live, struggle to stay in a home, and live in either temporary housing, shelters, or on the streets
Consider the conditions that invite homefulness.
What can I do to further God’s love for the homeless and God’s interest in sheltering everyone?
(Luke 2: 25 & 36)
Revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah, a righteous and devout man in Jerusalem called Simeon, is waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit is upon him. There was also a prophet, Anna, who never leaves the temple but worships night and day, fasting and praying.
Pray now for those who have nowhere to live, struggle to stay in a home, and live in either temporary housing, shelters, or on the streets
Consider the conditions that invite homefulness.
What can I do to further God’s love for the homeless and God’s interest in sheltering everyone?
December 15 - Virgin Mary – The Annunciation
(Luke 1:28-29)
The angel comes to Mary and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary is greatly troubled at his words and wonders what kind of greeting this might be.
Pray now for those who struggle as LGBTQ people to find understanding, welcome, inclusion, and fairness in the world.
Consider the conditions that invite safety, inclusion, and fairness for LGBTQ people.
What can I do to further God’s love for and interest in every person?
(Luke 1:28-29)
The angel comes to Mary and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary is greatly troubled at his words and wonders what kind of greeting this might be.
Pray now for those who struggle as LGBTQ people to find understanding, welcome, inclusion, and fairness in the world.
Consider the conditions that invite safety, inclusion, and fairness for LGBTQ people.
What can I do to further God’s love for and interest in every person?
December 16 - Joseph’s Decision (Matthew 1:19)
Joseph Mary’s betrothed is a righteous man and does not want to disgrace her, and so plans to send her away secretly. But when he considers this, behold, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.”
Pray now for the unemployed, the underemployed, and those who struggle for a right to employment, the right to a safe, dignified work experience, adequate workplace protections, equal pay for equal work, and the right to a fair wage for a day’s work.
Consider the conditions that invite safe, fair working conditions and living wages.
What can I do to further God’s love for and interest in every worker?
Joseph Mary’s betrothed is a righteous man and does not want to disgrace her, and so plans to send her away secretly. But when he considers this, behold, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.”
Pray now for the unemployed, the underemployed, and those who struggle for a right to employment, the right to a safe, dignified work experience, adequate workplace protections, equal pay for equal work, and the right to a fair wage for a day’s work.
Consider the conditions that invite safe, fair working conditions and living wages.
What can I do to further God’s love for and interest in every worker?
December 17 - Trusting a Dream (Matthew 2:19-23)
The mother and child are protected by God through a warning in Joseph’s dream.
Pray now for those who are innocent victims of human trafficking, forced prostitution, and child and teenage exploitation.
Consider the conditions that invite dignity and freedom from sexual predation.
What can I do to further God’s love for and interest in every body?
The mother and child are protected by God through a warning in Joseph’s dream.
Pray now for those who are innocent victims of human trafficking, forced prostitution, and child and teenage exploitation.
Consider the conditions that invite dignity and freedom from sexual predation.
What can I do to further God’s love for and interest in every body?
December 18 - Pondering Heart (Luke 2:19)
Luke gives attention to Mary and her pondering heart. Mary did not take what was happening to her at face value, but sought the deeper, hidden intentions behind her experience.
Pray now for those who are suffer from racial oppression and injustice due to skin color, place of origin, or ethnicity.
Consider the conditions that invite inclusion, equality and abundance.
What can I do to further God’s love for and interest in every person no matter what they look like or where they come from?
Luke gives attention to Mary and her pondering heart. Mary did not take what was happening to her at face value, but sought the deeper, hidden intentions behind her experience.
Pray now for those who are suffer from racial oppression and injustice due to skin color, place of origin, or ethnicity.
Consider the conditions that invite inclusion, equality and abundance.
What can I do to further God’s love for and interest in every person no matter what they look like or where they come from?
December 19 - Naming John (Luke 1:59-60)
They were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; he shall be called John."
Pray now for those who name strange, hateful, and terrible things as God’s intention.
Consider the conditions that invite tolerance, kindness, and mercy in the name of God.
What can I do to further God’s love even when the dangerously misguided act otherwise in God’s name?
They were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; he shall be called John."
Pray now for those who name strange, hateful, and terrible things as God’s intention.
Consider the conditions that invite tolerance, kindness, and mercy in the name of God.
What can I do to further God’s love even when the dangerously misguided act otherwise in God’s name?
December 20 - Soldiers (Matthew 2:16)
When King Herod realizes that he has been outwitted by the Magi who do not reveal the location of the infant Jesus, he is furious, and gives orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who are two years old and under, in accordance with what he has learned from the Magi.
Pray now for those who follow orders and do what they are told and those who do not.
Consider the conditions that invite alternate paths when conscience is incongruent with orders.
What can I do to further God’s love for and interest in knowing and doing what is right?
When King Herod realizes that he has been outwitted by the Magi who do not reveal the location of the infant Jesus, he is furious, and gives orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who are two years old and under, in accordance with what he has learned from the Magi.
Pray now for those who follow orders and do what they are told and those who do not.
Consider the conditions that invite alternate paths when conscience is incongruent with orders.
What can I do to further God’s love for and interest in knowing and doing what is right?
Each Friday during Advent the meditations for the following week will be available. We'll send reminders!
Advent Meditations Week 1 - November 30 - December 6
Advent Meditations Week 2 December 7-13
Advent Meditations Week 3 December 14-20
Advent Meditations Week 4 December 21-24
Advent Meditations Week 1 - November 30 - December 6
Advent Meditations Week 2 December 7-13
Advent Meditations Week 3 December 14-20
Advent Meditations Week 4 December 21-24
