Today is Day 12 of Christmas and the Last Day of Christmas.
Daily Office Readings for this day: Year 1
AM Psalms 2 and 110:1 to 5;
Joshua 1:1 to 9; Hebrews 11:32 to 12:2; John 15:1 to 16
Eve of Epiphany;
PM Psalms 29 and 98;
Isaiah 66:18 to 23; Romans 15:7 to 13
“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name’; and again he says, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’; and again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him’; and again Isaiah says, The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15: 7 to 13)
In these few words from Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome, the word Gentiles appears 6 times. This word means “the nations” “other than us.” and it shows the inclusive nature of God, and God’s call for us to reconcile all people to God. This is our hope as Christians and as a people of faith.
At our closing of our Education of Ministry (EfM) on Sunday last, I asked one of our participants to select a closing for us at the end of Evening Prayer and she picked this closing from page 126 of our Book of Common Prayer, so let us end our Christmas season with the same:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Merry Christmas: Day 12, and our last Day of Christmas.
Angels still top our experiences today: Merry Christmas: Day 11
Messages of inclusion: we all belong to God in Christ Jesus. Merry Christmas: Day 10
As a Christmas gift you are blessed, and you are called by God to be a blessing to all whom you come in contact with. Merry Christmas: Day 9
Be you male or female, you were made as a gift to our community before you were born and so named at your own Christening. Merry Christmas: Day 8
God was born among us to teach us how to depend on God together for help all the time, but most especially in time of human need. Merry Christmas: Day 7
Forgive someone this Christmas and accept being forgiven. Merry Christmas: Day 6
Let us believe with patience, and have patience in believing. Merry Christmas: Day 5
We are never to hurt or harm children, only help them, teach them, save and love them. This is what Christmas is all about. Merry Christmas: Day 4
The testimony of John the apostle about our Lord Jesus is true; Believe. Merry Christmas: Day 3
Let us not take our hate or ill will for another with us to our mortal death. Merry Christmas: Day 2
Our being saved has as much to do with the birth of Jesus as it does his Resurrection from the dead. Merry Christmas: Day 1
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John
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