John 17:6-19

Prayer for the Day
Holy Spirit, dwell with me. Dwell within me. As I make my way through a day with joys and challenges, remind me of your companionship and guidance. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, and may my life encourage others to seek life in you.

Question
The spirit of Teresa of Avila’s words is known to many of us through the song Teresa’s Prayer by Joseph Helfrich: “Christ be in my mind, and in my thinking. Christ be in my eyes, in everything I see. Christ be in my ears and in my hearing, Christ be in my mouth, in every word I speak. Christ be in my heart, and in my loving. Christ be in my life, each moment that I live.” What would it mean in your life for Christ to be in your mind, eyes, and mouth? How might your internal and external experience of life be different if you continually invited Christ into your reality?

Becky Ullom, Director Youth and Young Adult 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.

Colossians 3:1-5

Prayer for the Day
God, too often we choose stay in our old, comfy clothes rather than get a new set of clothes from you. We worry about what the new clothes might demand of us. Can we handle being a bearer of Christ’s light? Give us the courage, each day anew, to live as you would have us live.

Question
What happens when we don’t recognize someone else’s choice for God and that they are figuring out what it means to be “clothed in love?” What happens when we can’t quite believe Christ’s compassion, humility, patience, forbearance, and forgiveness really covers our sin? How can we help ourselves and others recognize and rejoice over the Holy Spirit transformations taking place every day?

Becky Ullom, Director Youth and Young Adult 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.

Revelation 21:1-5

Prayer for the Day
God of each of us and God of all of us, we seek you in the wilderness of our lives – as individuals and as a community. Forgive us when we chose to identify our spiritual dwelling place as a location rather than a manner of Jesus-inspired living. Lead us, Holy Spirit into spiritual postures which encourage us to “tabernacle with God.”

Question
For a moment, picture your faith community in your mind’s eye. Now imagine your community journeying together with God outside of your fixed house of worship. What figurative baggage would your community leave behind by tent camping with God for a bit? In what ways might God re-form your family of faith if you acknowledge the wilderness you are in and focus more keenly on the Holy Spirit’s guidance?

Becky Ullom, Director Youth and Young Adult 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.