The Sixth and Seventh Days of Christmas: O Star-flinging God

O Star-flinging God

O Star-flinging God,
whose light dances across eternity,
  dazzle us into your presence
  this new year.
Open our hearts to the mystery of your love.

Awaken us to your presence,
  knit to the ordinary.
Reveal to us what is possible, but not yet present.
Heal us, that we might be healers.

Reconcile us to you and to ourselves,
  that our living might be reconciling.

Stop us often, we pray
  with news that is good
  with hope that holds
  with truth that transforms with a Word
    tailored to this trail we're on.

May the word of your grace guide our steps
  like the sun by day
  and the north star by night,
  as we travel into the gift of a new year. Amen.

~Glenn Mitchell

Happy Fifth Day of Christmas: Some Christmas Whimsy

During my growing up years, watching The Muppet Show was a regular part of evening life. If we (my younger sister and I) had "been good" we might get to stay up to watch Donnie & Marie afterward. With bowls of ice cream.

Every year on the fifth day of Christmas I remember Miss Piggy and her "ba dum dum dum" after "five go-o-ld rings."

I hope you enjoy it.

The Fourth Day of Christmas: Holy Innocents

Today is a harder day of commemoration. Right in the middle of our ongoing celebration of the Incarnation, we are reminded that the birth of the Baby in Bethlehem didn't seem like good news for everyone. The Gospel according to Matthew tells us how Herod ordered the slaughter of children in and around Bethlehem, out of fear of losing his throne to a newborn king.
Augustine called these innocents "buds, killed by the frost of persecution the moment they showed themselves."
Today we pray for all those who suffer unjustly and for those persecuted for their faith.

The Third Day of Christmas: John 1

From http://www.agnusday.org/  -

In the beginning was the Word...

The Second Day of Christmas: St. Stephen's Day

Today (December 26th) is the feast day for St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. You can read about his death in Acts 6-7.

Though the carol "Good King Wenceslas" doesn't mention the nativity of Jesus, because all its action happens "on the feast of Stephen," it gets sung this time of year.

Enjoy! (The lyrics are typed below, should you want to follow along).



Good King Wenceslas
Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel

"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather

"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing

The First Day of Christmas: Happy Incarnation Day!

The Risk of Birth

By Madeleine L'Enlge

This is no time for a child to be born,

With the earth betrayed by war & hate

And a nova lighting the sky to warn

That time runs out & the sun burns late.

That was no time for a child to be born,

In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;

Honor & truth were trampled by scorn -

Yet here did the Savior make his home.

When is the time for love to be born?

The inn is full on the planet earth,

And by greed & pride the sky is torn -

Yet love still takes the risk of birth.

Christmas Greeting from ELCA Presiding Bishop Hanson