Christ in Our Home devotions Dec 19 - Dec 25, 2016

Christ In Our Home Devotions

Christmas Day

The Word became flesh

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

Almighty God, grant that the birth of your one and only Son in the flesh may set us free from our old bondage under the yoke of sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you 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 98

Refrain: Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.

Sing to the LORD a new song,*

for he has done marvelous things.

The LORD has made his salvation known*

and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

He has remembered his love and his faithfulness

to the house of Israel;*

all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Refrain

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,*

burst into jubilant song with music;

make music to the LORD with the harp,*

with the harp and the sound of singing.

Shout for joy before the LORD, the King.*

He will judge the world in righteousness

and the peoples with equity.

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. When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law. Alleluia. (Galatians 4:4,5a)

8. Read a Devotion or the Following Suggested Scriptures

Dec 19 Micah 1‐3, Revelation 10

Dec 20 Micah 4‐5, Revelation 11

Dec 21 Micah 6‐7, Revelation 12

Dec 22 Nahum 1‐3, Revelation 13

Dec 23 Habakkuk 1‐3, Revelation 14

Dec 24 Zephaniah 1‐3, Revelation 15

Dec 25 Haggai 1‐2, Revelation 16 & Worship in the House of the Lord

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

10. Sing or Say the Hymn of the Week: 

35  Of the Father’s Love Begotten

1  Of the Father’s love begotten Ere the worlds began to be,

He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending he,

Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see

Evermore and evermore.

2  Oh, that birth forever blessed When the virgin, full of grace,

By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bore the Savior of our race,

And the babe, the world’s Redeemer, First revealed his sacred face

Evermore and evermore.

3  This is he whom heav’n-taught singers Sang of old with one accord;

Whom the Scriptures of the prophets Promised in their faithful word.

Now he shines, the long-expected; Let creation praise its Lord

Evermore and evermore.

4  Let the heights of heav’n adore him, Angel hosts his praises sing,

Pow’rs, dominions bow before him And extol our God and King.

Let no tongue on earth be silent, Ev’ry voice in concert ring

Evermore and evermore.

5  Christ, to you, with God the Father, And the Spirit ceaselessly

Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving And unending praises be,

Honor, glory, and dominion And eternal victory

Evermore and evermore.

Text: Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, 348–c. 413, abr.; tr. John M. Neale, 1818–66, st. 1-4, alt.; Henry W. Baker, 1821–77, st. 5, alt.