Light of Love

John 3:16-21

Prayer for the Day

Help us walk in your light, God. Draw us out of the shadows and into those transparent places where we can reflect your love for the world. Lure us from darkness into the light of new creation, that place where our willful separation from you is unnecessary and overcome. We are children of your Light. With thanks and praise we pray.

Question
How will others recognize you as a child of light today?

Jonathan Shively, Executive Director Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

A Guiding Light

Isaiah 9:1-4

Prayer for the Day
Light of the world, ray of eternal sunshine, illuminator of all goodness and overcomer of all that is evil, shine upon us. Out of seasons of darkness, draw us into the radiance of your love. Transform our experiences of darkness by your light. Allow the warmth and energy of your Spirit to sooth and inspire us. Draw us close like a newborn is embraced by its parent.

Question
How has the light of Christ overcome your seasons of darkness?

Jonathan Shively, Executive Director Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

God with Us

Isaiah 7:10-17

Prayer for the Day
Already present God, forgive our lack of confidence in your steadfast companionship. Strengthen our awareness of your constancy so that our ambiguity may be lessened. Make us aware of your daily promises, those life-altering possibilities that come with names like Emmanuel and in faces of young women and men like Mary and Joseph, and that break unexpectedly into our moments of both doubt and trust.

Question
God’s instructions on what to look for were explicit for Ahaz. The details of what lies ahead in our life rarely seem to be so clear. How do you recognize God’s promises and their fulfillment?

Jonathan Shively, Executive Director Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Child of Blessing

Luke 2:36-38

Prayer for the Day
God, we have waited with hope and anticipation; help us recognize that the one we expected, the Christ child, is in our midst. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to receive, arms to embrace, and lips to tell of this magnificent promise come true. May we like Anna break into anthems of praise, giving testimony to the joy you have sent to dwell among us.

Question
In what ways do we embrace, and in what ways do we resist, the fulfillment of our hopes?

Jonathan Shively, Executive Director Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Song of a Servant

Luke 2:25-35

Prayer for the Day

Help us, oh God, to listen for your call, to hear what you have to say, and to go where you need us to go. Let us be ever vigilant and help us to keep not just one, but both ears open to hear what needs to be done for your glory. Amen.

Question

Have you heard God’s call to action? If so, what marvelous things have you seen just because you were willing to listen to God’s call to you?

Rachel Witkovsky, Coordinator of 2012 Workcamp Ministry

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

What’s in a Name?

Luke 2:21-24

Prayer for the Day

God, thank you for knowing each and every one of our names. We celebrate our individuality even with names that have been used before. And we celebrate Jesus who, though he had a common name, was far from common. Help us, oh Lord, to live beyond our names and as your children. Amen.

Question

What does your name mean? How did you get your name? What does it mean to you?

Rachel Witkovsky, Coordinator of 2012 Workcamp Ministry

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

It’s a Boy!

Isaiah 9:1-7

Prayer for the Day

Lovely Christ child, please put hope into our hearts where fear now lies. Please teach us to trust in the small things and not to look solely for the big changes. Help us to remember that goodness and change can come in small and large packages alike. On this glorious day, let us look towards the future with eyes shining, full of your light and love. Amen.

Question

When was a time you saw good things happening in the least likely of places?

Rachel Witkovsky, Coordinator of 2012 Workcamp Ministry

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Making Room for Jesus

Luke 2:1-7

Prayer for the Day

Wondrous one, who came to us as a babe, let us fill the empty spaces in our lives with your light and your love. Help us to close out the objects in our life that distract us from you. Let us understand that you are there, always, ready to enter into any room of our life that we will open to you. Amen.

Question

What room in your life needs to be filled during this season of new beginnings? How will you invite Jesus to help you?

Rachel Witkovsky, Coordinator of 2012 Workcamp Ministry

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

LIttle Town of Bethlehem

Micah 5:1-5

Question
Where are you from? How did it shape, how does it continue to shape, the person you have become?

Prayer
Take my life, my ordinary, everyday life, and let it be…consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

-Donna Kline, Director, Deacon Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

 

Glory Into Glory

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Prayer
Gracious Lord, we cannot begin to imagine the glories you have yet to share with us. Where your spirit lives, there is freedom. We cannot wait to experience this ultimate sense of freedom, offered through your grace alone.

Question
How do others see the glory of God reflected in you?

-Donna Kline, Director, Deacon Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Advent devotional written by David W. Miller. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, David’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.