Nativity Prayer of St. Augustine

As our Christmas season comes to a close (today is the 11th Day of Christmas), here is what is known as the Nativity Prayer of St. Augustine.

Let the just rejoice,
for their justifier is born.

Let the sick and infirm rejoice,
For their saviour is born.

Let the captives rejoice,
For their Redeemer is born.

Let slaves rejoice,
for their Master is born.

Let free men rejoice,
For their Liberator is born.

Let All Christians rejoice,
For Jesus Christ is born.

Amen

St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-440)

ADVENT IS . . .

Advent is . . .
Longing and looking

Waiting and watching

Attentive anticipation

Earnest expectation

Patient preparation

During this season of hope we look back on, remember, and celebrate what many generations only dreamed of and longed for - the Incarnation of the promised Messiah. But we not only look back, we look forward to another promise, that of His return. 

Never lose that sense of expectancy that Advent is about!
Don't lose heart!
Hold fast to the hope!

May this Christmas bring you, your family, and your church God's richest blessings. May His favor be abundantly poured out on you and all you hold dear.

Happy Holidays!

"Happy whatever-your-holidays-might-be!"
 

For me:
it was Thanksgiving,
currently is Advent,  
soon will be twelve days of Christmas,
followed by Epiphany.

I don't presume that you would know that, nor do I assume you will remember that, so, "Happy Holidays!" will be just great.

When you smile at me and wish me a "Happy Holidays!" I will intentionally "keep Christ in Christmas" by kindly and simply saying, "Why, thank you! May your holidays be happy as well." A big part of "keeping Christ in Christmas" is keeping His grace in Christmas.

Happy Holidays!

A True Advent Hymn

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is truly a hymn for Advent. The earnest desire for the One who would come as Israel's Deliverer is seen in every verse. This longing and hoping, watching and waiting is what the spirit of Advent is all about. Originally written in Latin in the 12th century, this hymn was translated into English by John M. Neale in 1851. Neale originally translated the first line, "Draw nigh, draw nigh, Em­man­u­el."

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave. Refrain

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain

O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery. Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain

O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call. Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace. Refrain

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear. Refrain

Remember Christian Soul

 

Remember Christian Soul 

 

That today and every day you have

God to glorify.

Jesus to imitate.

Salvation to work out with fear and trembling.

A body to use rightly.

Sins to repent.

Virtues to acquire.

Hell to avoid.

Heaven to gain.

Eternity to hold in mind.

Time to profit by.

Neighbors to serve.

The world to enjoy.

Creation to use rightly.

Slights to endure patiently.

Kindnesses to offer willingly.

Justice to strive for.

Temptations to overcome.

Death perhaps to suffer.

In all things, God's love to sustain you.

 

~ ~ ~ From St. Augustine's Prayer Book

A Note to Husbands and Fathers

Husbands and fathers, your family needs to feel safe when they are with you. You are to be a place they can run, knowing you will protect and care for them. There is something seriously wrong if your family dreads being near you, never knowing if they can trust you to be the man you are meant to be. If they are afraid of being around you, you are a miserable failure at this game we call life.

Are you a bully around your family, or a bully toward anyone, for that matter? Being a bully and being a Christian are not compatible. You are called to lead by example in humility, servanthood, and Christlikeness. You are not called to rule with an iron fist.

Love your wife. Love your children. Make sure they never have a reason to doubt your love and never have a reason to be afraid of you.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear." - 1 John 4:18

On the Lives of Early Christians

Some scholars date this wonderful work as early as 130 a.d., while others, mid to-late second century.

The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus

Chapter V - The Manners of the Christians

Christians are not distinguished from other men by country, language, nor by the customs which they observe. They do not inhabit cities of their own, use a particular way of speaking, nor lead a life marked out by any curiosity. The course of conduct they follow has not been devised by the speculation and deliberation of inquisitive men. The do not, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of merely human doctrines.

Instead, they inhabit both Greek and barbarian cities, however things have fallen to each of them. And it is while following the customs of the natives in clothing, food, and the rest of ordinary life that they display to us their wonderful and admittedly striking way of life.

They live in their own countries, but they do so as those who are just passing through. As citizens they participate in everything with others, yet they endure everything as if they were foreigners. Every foreign land is like their homeland to them, and every land of their birth is like a land of strangers.

They marry, like everyone else, and they have children, but they do not destroy their offspring. They share a common table, but not a common bed.

They exist in the flesh, but they do not live by the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, all the while surpassing the laws by their lives.
They love all men and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned. They are put to death and restored to life.

They are poor, yet make many rich. They lack everything, yet they overflow in everything. They are dishonored, and yet in their very dishonor they are glorified; they are spoken ill of and yet are justified; they are reviled but bless; they are insulted and repay the insult with honor; they do good, yet are punished as evildoers; when punished, they rejoice as if raised from the dead. They are assailed by the Jews as barbarians; they are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to give any reason for their hatred.

Walking with Grief

The following thoughts are beautifully written by  Andy Raine, one of the founders of the  Northumbria Prayer Community, and found in the book Celtic Daily Prayer.

Do not hurry as you walk with grief;
it does not help the journey.
Walk slowly, pausing often:
do not hurry as you walk with grief.
Be not disturbed by memories that come unbidden.
Swiftly forgive; and let Christ speak for you unspoken words.
Unfinished conversation will be resolved in him.
Be not disturbed.
Be gentle with the one who walks with grief.
If it is you, be gentle with yourself.
Swiftly forgive; walk slowly, pausing often.
Take time, be gentle as you walk with grief.

Architectural Theology

The other day I picked up a book at a thrift store which should prove to be an interesting read: "Ugly as Sin," by Michael S. Rose. It is a book about church architecture as it relates to our worship experience. The author, addressing the subject from a Catholic perspective, writes about how churches have been reduced from "sacred places" to merely "meeting spaces." He uses the term "architectural theology," which I found to be very thought provoking. What follows is a short excerpt from the Foreword that I thought was interesting.

    "Church architecture affects the way man worships; the way he worships affects what he believes; and what he believes affects not only his personal relationship with God but how he conducts himself in his daily life.
    "In other words, church architecture is not negligible but significant, not the concern only of architects but central to your life and mine."

As I work my way through this book I'll share interesting tidbits along the way.

Powerful Words from a 20th Century Martyr

Oscar Romero, martyr of the church in El Salvador, said, “A church that suffers no persecution but enjoys the privileges and support of the things of the earth—beware!—is not the true church of Jesus Christ. A preaching that does not point out sin is not the preaching of the gospel. A preaching that makes sinners feel good, so that they are secured in their sinful state, betrays the gospel’s call.”
~ ~ ~ from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals

A Celtic Blessing

Bless to me, O God,

the earth beneath my feet,

Bless to me, O God,

the path whereon I go

Bless to me, O God,

the people whom I meet,

today, tonight, tomorrow. Amen. - unknown

The Valley of Vision

The following prayer is taken from the book The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett

The Valley of Vision

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, 
    where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; 
    hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. 
Let me learn by paradox 
   that the way down is the way up, 
   that to be low is to be high,
   that the broken heart is the healed heart,
   that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
   that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
   that to have nothing is to possess all, 
   that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, 
   that to give is to receive, 
   that the valley is the place of vision. 
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
   and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;
Let me find Thy light in my darkness, 
   Thy life in my death, 
   Thy joy in my sorrow, 
   Thy grace in my sin,
   Thy riches in my poverty, 
   Thy glory in my valley.