Hi everyone.

I squeaked in under the noon mark.  It is technically still morning.  I have had this screen up for several hours, but every time I started clicking the keyboard, there was an interruption.   Le sigh.

I know your days are like that too.  The dog wants out, the phone rings, an important email arrives, the landlord comes to the door unexpectedly (just said goodbye to him)… It is easy to get frustrated.  Some days it may feel like everyone else comes first. A little me time would be sooooooo nice.  Especially on a Friday after a long week.  Le bigger sigh.

Some wise person once told me that it was the interruptions in the day that were actually the points of ministry.  They were the ways in which we show love, help out, listen, be a friend, share important time together.  I see their point.  But there are days when I really want to get to the “to do” list.  Or just have a few hours to read a book or watch a movie or go for a walk.  I count too.  And so do you.

Let’s do it! Today, look for ways to balance the time spent with the interruptions and the time YOU need to accomplish what is important to you, too.   Even if that means a nap.  I think naps are very important.  Block it on your daytimer as an appointment.  No one needs to know it is with your pillow.  In this way, we have a chance to recharge, feed our soul, and feel better when someone calls on us.

And, pray!  Including prayer and meditation in your day is a sure fire way to restore balance into your life.  Oh, I have just the thing for you! 🙂

Here is today’s prayer service for the first Friday in Advent.
Blessings,
+Deb

Morning Prayer for Friday in Advent

We greet the Day

O Lord, open our lips:
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever.
Amen.

Hear, O Israel

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

This is the first and the great commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.

There is no commandment greater than these.

Kyrie
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Collect
Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for the peace you give us.  We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, that you would remain present with us.  Help us today – and everyday- to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your peace with each other.  We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem.  Amen

Song of the First-Born  Colossians 1.15–20
Christ is the image of the unseen God, *
the first-born of all creation,

for in him were all things made, *
in heaven and on earth.

Through him and for him were all things made,
before all he exists, holds all things in one. *
The Church is his body, and he is its head.

He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; *
in all things he alone is supreme.

God made all his fullness to dwell in him, *
to reconcile through him all creation to himself,

everything on earth and everything in heaven, *
all gathered into peace by his death on the cross.

Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever. Amen.

Reading:  Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiber’i-us Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturae’a and Trachoni’tis, and Lysa’ni-as tetrarch of Abile’ne, in the high-priesthood of Annas and Ca’iaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechari’ah in the wilderness; and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!
2     Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord is God!
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him, bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures for ever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Reflective Prayer
Lord, you are the light of the world.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
Heavenly Father, we long for your plan of rescue and redemption to be realized. Give us hearts that see Your beauty and wait in hope for You to make all things good and new again.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
May Your light and love shine brightly in our hearts, spreading hope and peace to those around us. Amen.

You are almighty, above and beyond everything. You are victorious. Darkness, sin and death are under your feet. You are holy, beautiful and full of love. How we adore thee. Amen.

Intercessory Prayers
We  offer to God the prayers of our hearts-

Gracious God source of all love and fount of all blessing, your Son Jesus Christ promised that you will hear us when we ask in faith.  Confident in his word, we offer you our prayers.

We pray for our world, for the leaders of nations and all in authority, that everyone may live in peace and mutual trust, sharing with justice the resources of the earth. May your love guide each heart.
(offer personal prayers for the world, leaders, the planet)

We give thanks for our church and every faith community across the world. Encourage clergy and religious leaders to lead with compassion, mirroring your love and grace by their lives and teaching.

We offer to your care, merciful God, all who are in sorrow, sickness, discouragement or any other trouble. Give them patience and a firm trust in your goodness. Change lives today through your mighty healing touch and bring to know your loving presence at work in their lives.

We pray for our own needs and concerns, giving thanks that answers and resolution are already on their way to us.  Especially, we offer these concerns to you…….

We give thanks for those who have died and for those who mourn their passing. May they find comfort and hope in the joy of your promise that you will greet us at the last and take us to your Father’s house.

Hear us, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power,
and the glory,
now and for ever.
Amen.

Concluding prayers
O come, O come, Emmanuel!
Redeem thy captive Israel,
that into exile drear is gone
far from the face of God’s dear Son.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, thou Dayspring bright!
Pour on our souls thy healing light;
dispel the long night’s lingering gloom,
and pierce the shadows of the tomb.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Lord of David’s Key!
The royal door fling wide and free;
safeguard for us the heavenward road,
and bar the way to death’s abode.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his face shine  on us and be gracious to us. The Lord look upon us with favour and grant us peace. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!