Prayer for God's Leading: Philippians 2: 1-4
Shaping a time of prayer for dwelling with Bible texts, prayer responses, songs of faith, and a concluding benediction.
Orienting Scripture Text
If then there is any encouragement in Christ,
any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit,
any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete:
be of the same mind, having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.
Let each of you look not to your own interests,
but to the interests of others. -Phil 2:1-4
Quiet Reflection
Prayer
Humble Christ,
you encourage us.
You console us with your love.
You share with us your Spirit.
You do not withhold from us
your compassion and sympathy.
Jesus, unify us as only you can.
We desire to be of the same mind,
having the same love,
in full accord with one another.
As we make decisions for the future,
we ask that your Holy Spirit enables us
to act not out of selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility to regard others as better than ourselves.
Help each of us to look not to our own interests,
but the interests of others
and ultimately to glorify you.
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit we pray.
Amen.
- Gigi Maddux, Class of 2024, Calvin Worship Apprentice
Central Scripture Text:
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
Then an angel of the Lord stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid; for see—
I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign for you:
you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,
praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven,
the shepherds said to one another,
“Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place,
which the Lord has made known to us.”
So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph,
and the child lying in the manger.
When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;
and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen,
as it had been told them --Luke 1: 8-20
Prayer
God of providential love,
How we marvel at your vocational call to these shepherds,
interrupting their ordinary duties with such extraordinary news, angel choirs and all.
Through the familiar words of this narrative,
prompt us too to be ready to receive and celebrate the Christ child.
When you show us the gift of Jesus, help us be like them:
making haste to behold this gift, making urgent the sharing of this good news.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Quiet Reflection
Musical Reflections
- Calvin University Capella: "Dios es nuestro Amparo / God Will Be Our Refuge" (Calvin University Capella, Pearl Shangkuan, conductor; Linda Hoisington, accompanist)
- Calvin University 2018 Christmas: "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (members of the Calvin University Gospel Choir)
Blessing
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 15:13