Prayer of the Day/Collect for 2nd Sunday in Lent, Year A

Cross by Dim Lamp

God of love: You sent your Son, Jesus into the world to show how much you love the world through his suffering and death on a cross. In gratitude for what Jesus has done for us, help us to share this love each day with others by following him in the way of the cross; through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit; one God, now and forever.    

Christmas 2014

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

Around the world people of every racial, ethnic, cultural and linguistic background are celebrating Christmas and the birth of Jesus the Christ-Messiah. Christians believe he is the long-expected Messiah who is also given the title in the Book of Isaiah, the prince of peace-the One who will inspire humankind to beat swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, so that no one shall know or learn war anymore. 

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

How we long for that peace/shalom, in a troubled world where there are plenty of conflicts and wars, and where hatred seems to be more prominent than love. So this Christmas let us pray for peace with justice for Israel-Palestine, for Jerusalem, for the larger Middle East, and for all nations. Wishing you and yours a very blessed Christmas and happy New Year. Thank you for visiting my blog.  

Christmas continued

As the season of Christmas continues up to January 5-the day before Epiphany-the following photos are from our Christmas tree. We are blessed to have a wide variety of nativity decorations, which we've collected over the years. 

Evergreeen Christmas tree symbol of eternity

 

 

Nativity decoration

One of my favourite nativity decorations

 "The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood." (John 1:14, from: Eugene Peterson, The Message)

Christmas Nativity and Benediction

May the love of our Heavenly Father;  the joy of Jesus Christ+ our Saviour’s birth; and the peace of the Holy Spirit fill your hearts, minds and lives this Christmas and always.

Creative Challenge 266: Humble

When I think of the word humble, my first and foremost picture that comes to mind is Jesus on the cross. He was the most humble of human beings in the life that he lived; on his road to the cross he was humiliated, despised, rejected by many, including the Roman authorities; his death was among the most humiliating, dishonourable deaths that one could die at that time in history, since it was a criminal's and insurrectionist's death; yet paradoxically, for those who are graced with the gift of faith, his humble, self-sacrificing death atones for the sins of humankind, and God's power and love is revealed through the weakness and humiliation of the crucified Jesus. Be sure to check out the other entries here.

Creative Challenge 259: The Key

The Key

He is always with you and me

Yet so many fail to see

That he sets us free

From a life of tyranny.

His love is beyond measure,

Flowing like a river.

The water’s never bitter,

Welcoming saint and sinner.

He gives us life without end,

So I am humbled to spend

A lifetime serving him,

My Key and greatest Friend. 

Check out other entries here.