Christ in Our Home devotions Dec 12 - Dec 18, 2016

Christ In Our Home Devotions

Fourth Sunday in Advent

God will come to save

1. Make the sign of the cross over yourself and say:

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

2. Pray Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer:

I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please you. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day. Forgive me all my sins, and graciously keep me this night. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

3. Pray the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

4. Pray the Prayer of the Week

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Take away the burden of our sins and make us ready for the celebration of your birth, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

5. Say the Apostles’ Creed:

     I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

     I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

     I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

6. Pray the Psalm of the Week: Psalm 24

Refrain: Let the Lord enter; he is the King of glory.

The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it,*

the world, and all who live in it;

for he founded it upon the seas*

and established it upon the waters.

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?*

Who may stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,*

he will receive blessing from God his Savior.

Refrain

Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors,*

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?*

The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors,*

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is he, this King of glory?*

The LORD Almighty—he is the King of glory.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son*

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,*

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Refrain

7. Say the Verse of the Week:

Alleluia. The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel. Alleluia. (Matthew 1:23)

8. Read a Devotion or the Following Suggested Scriptures

Dec 12 Hosea 12‐14, Revelation 3

Dec 13 Joel 1‐3, Revelation 4

Dec 14 Amos 1‐3, Revelation 5

Dec 15 Amos 4‐6, Revelation 6

Dec 16 Amos 7‐9, Revelation 7

Dec 17 Obadiah 1, Revelation 8

Dec 18 Jonah 1‐4, Revelation 9 & Worship in the House of the Lord

9. Prayer of JOY: Jesus; Others; and Yourself

10. Sing or Say the Hymn of the Week: 

23  Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel

1  Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!

2  Oh, come, O Root of Jesse, free Your own from Satan’s tyranny;

From depths of hell your people save, And bring them vict’ry o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!

3  Oh, come, O Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by your drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!

4  Oh, come, O Key of David, come, And open wide our heav’nly home.

Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!

Text: Latin hymn, c. 12th century, abr.; tr. John M. Neale, 1818–66, alt.