Resurrection Lutheran Church: Faithful Life in Pandemic
Devotions in Quarantine
Monday,
January 4
The
11th Day of Christmas
Reflection
On
the 11th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me- so that funny
Christmas Carol goes- “11 Pipers Piping..”
Say
what?
There’s
actually a meaning behind those Pipers. Really!
The
Pipers are the disciples—minus Judas. On
this 11th day of Christmas, you’ve been given the witness of those
who first walked with Jesus. He is the
light of the world, John promises. Follow him.
He is the one of whom the angels sang, Luke promises. Listen to him. He is the one over whom the star rested,
Matthew calls. Walk toward it. He is the one, Mark promises who asks you to
lift your eyes toward him not tomorrow, but this moment, this now- and the one
who can be trusted with what he asks of you.
Prayer
Thank
you for those who have shared your love with me, and made an impact in doing
so—including, O Lord, those first disciples. So may I share your love with joy, with mercy,
with strength,, and with peace.
Amen
For
Children
Find
a recording of “The 12 Days of Christmas.”
Listen to it together. Share with
your children what the “11 Pipers ” stand for.
Pray this prayer, or one like it.
Dear
Jesus, thank you that you give me people who tell me about you. Amen
.
Tuesday,
January 5
The
12th Day of Christmas
Reflection
As
with the 11th Day of Christmas—there is real meaning behind the “12
drummers Drumming” for this 12th day of Christmas.
The
“12 drummers” are what the early church called the 12 tenants of the Apostles’
Creed: the teaching for the church that
both defines the church, upholds its faith, and sends it out in mission.
We
primarily talk about 3 of those tenants—God the Father created the world; the
Son redeemed and redeems it, and God the Holy Spirit moves through life to
create life and faith.
Teaching
is not faith, but it informs it.
Listening to, seeking understanding of, and committed belief in that
teaching is not faith—but does shape it.
Without
knowing about the One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in whom we “live
and move and have our being,” we miss connecting to all of the gifts that come
in that Trinity of hope, mercy, life, and love.
Prayer
Thank
you for the many ways you make yourself known to me, O God, particularly
through the Creeds and teachings of the church.
Keep my mind opened to you, by heart warmed by you, and my life
attentive to you.
Amen
For
Children
Find
a recording of “The 12 Days of Christmas.”
Listen to it together. Share with
your children what the “12 Drummers ” stand for. Pray this prayer, or one like it.
Dear
Jesus, keep teaching me about you. Amen
.
Wednesday,
January 6
Epiphany
Today
is the Day of Epiphany– the beginning of the Season of the church
year where we are immersed in the promise that
our Lord is the light of the world that we live and through that light,
and most of all, that we are called to share that light with all people.
Like the light of the star that guided the magi to Jesus, the
light of Christ reveals who we are: children of God who are claimed and washed
in the waters of baptism. We are sent out to be beacons of the light of Christ,
sharing the good news of God’s love to all people.
Your life matters—to God, in and of itself, and to those around
you, near and far. You are held in the
light of God. Epiphany beckons to be the light that you are.
Prayer
On
this Day of Epiphany, let me see your light, no matter how far it seems—and give
me your Spirit to trust it, even when and as it seems dim.
Amen
For
Children
Find
a recording of “This Little Light of Mine.”
Listen to it together, and sing it if you’d like. Share with your children that the light and
love they share in even very small ways make a difference- and show Jesus’
love.
Pray
this prayer, or one like it.
Dear
Jesus, thank you that you give me people who tell me about you. Amen
.
Thursday,
January 7
Epiphany
Day 1
In
your baptism, you were called to “Let
your light so shine that others would see your good works, and glorify your
Father who is in heaven.
That
light is the Star of Bethlehem, shining in the middle of the darkest of nights.
That
light is the song of the angels, coming to the Shepherds by night.
That
light is the light of Gabriel, coming in light to Mary to tell her that she was
to bear a Son—and in Mary, as she asked that she would be a handmaiden to all
that God would ask of her.
The
light of Christmas, the light of the star, shines anew in your life today. You are the kings. You are the angels. You are Mary.
Let
your light so shine.
Prayer
Let
my light so shine, O God. Amen
For
Children
Find
a recording of “This Little Light of Mine.”
Listen to it together again, and sing it if you’d like. Share with your children that the star of
Bethlehem shines in them through Jesus’ love.
Devotions in Quarantine
Monday, January 4
The 11th Day of Christmas
Reflection
On the 11th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me- so that funny Christmas Carol goes- “11 Pipers Piping..”
Say what?
There’s actually a meaning behind those Pipers. Really!
The Pipers are the disciples—minus Judas. On this 11th day of Christmas, you’ve been given the witness of those who first walked with Jesus. He is the light of the world, John promises. Follow him. He is the one of whom the angels sang, Luke promises. Listen to him. He is the one over whom the star rested, Matthew calls. Walk toward it. He is the one, Mark promises who asks you to lift your eyes toward him not tomorrow, but this moment, this now- and the one who can be trusted with what he asks of you.
Prayer
Thank you for those who have shared your love with me, and made an impact in doing so—including, O Lord, those first disciples. So may I share your love with joy, with mercy, with strength,, and with peace.
Amen
For Children
Find a recording of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Listen to it together. Share with your children what the “11 Pipers ” stand for. Pray this prayer, or one like it.
Dear Jesus, thank you that you give me people who tell me about you. Amen
.
Tuesday, January 5
The 12th Day of Christmas
Reflection
As with the 11th Day of Christmas—there is real meaning behind the “12 drummers Drumming” for this 12th day of Christmas.
The “12 drummers” are what the early church called the 12 tenants of the Apostles’ Creed: the teaching for the church that both defines the church, upholds its faith, and sends it out in mission.
We primarily talk about 3 of those tenants—God the Father created the world; the Son redeemed and redeems it, and God the Holy Spirit moves through life to create life and faith.
Teaching is not faith, but it informs it. Listening to, seeking understanding of, and committed belief in that teaching is not faith—but does shape it.
Without knowing about the One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in whom we “live and move and have our being,” we miss connecting to all of the gifts that come in that Trinity of hope, mercy, life, and love.
Prayer
Thank you for the many ways you make yourself known to me, O God, particularly through the Creeds and teachings of the church. Keep my mind opened to you, by heart warmed by you, and my life attentive to you.
Amen
For Children
Find a recording of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Listen to it together. Share with your children what the “12 Drummers ” stand for. Pray this prayer, or one like it.
Dear Jesus, keep teaching me about you. Amen
.
Wednesday, January 6
Epiphany
Today is the Day of Epiphany– the beginning of the Season of the church year where we are immersed in the promise that our Lord is the light of the world that we live and through that light, and most of all, that we are called to share that light with all people.
Like the light of the star that guided the magi to Jesus, the light of Christ reveals who we are: children of God who are claimed and washed in the waters of baptism. We are sent out to be beacons of the light of Christ, sharing the good news of God’s love to all people.
Your life matters—to God, in and of itself, and to those around you, near and far. You are held in the light of God. Epiphany beckons to be the light that you are.
Prayer
On this Day of Epiphany, let me see your light, no matter how far it seems—and give me your Spirit to trust it, even when and as it seems dim.
Amen
For Children
Find a recording of “This Little Light of Mine.” Listen to it together, and sing it if you’d like. Share with your children that the light and love they share in even very small ways make a difference- and show Jesus’ love.
Pray this prayer, or one like it.
Dear Jesus, thank you that you give me people who tell me about you. Amen
.
Thursday, January 7
Epiphany Day 1
In your baptism, you were called to “Let your light so shine that others would see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
That light is the Star of Bethlehem, shining in the middle of the darkest of nights.
That light is the song of the angels, coming to the Shepherds by night.
That light is the light of Gabriel, coming in light to Mary to tell her that she was to bear a Son—and in Mary, as she asked that she would be a handmaiden to all that God would ask of her.
The light of Christmas, the light of the star, shines anew in your life today. You are the kings. You are the angels. You are Mary.
Let your light so shine.
Prayer
Let my light so shine, O God. Amen
For Children
Find a recording of “This Little Light of Mine.” Listen to it together again, and sing it if you’d like. Share with your children that the star of Bethlehem shines in them through Jesus’ love.
Pray this prayer, or one like it.
Dear Jesus, shine your love in me. Amen
.
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