rejoice in the Lord

Advent – Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Anointed to proclaim

/ Lil Smith / Leave a comment

ISAIAH 61:1-4, 8-11

1   The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
2   to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3   to provide for those who mourn in Zion —
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
4   They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.

8   For I the LORD love justice,
I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9   Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.
10  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11  For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Sit in silent meditation five to fifteen minutes paying attention to the deep breath.
  • What word or phrase captures your attention as you read through the text?
  • Allow this word of phrase to grow within you.
  • Read the text again.  What new meaning comes to you as you focus on this word or phrase?
  • How is God anointing you in this word or phrase?
  • Read the text a third time.  What is God asking you to proclaim?
  • Put on this proclamation as if you are putting on a warm coat.
  • Wear it all day.
  • Share the proclamation as God leads you.
  • Give thanks to God for the anointing and the proclamation.  Give thanks for any new insights you have received.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, December 17, 2017, the Third Sunday of Advent Year B 
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126:1-6
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Luke 1:46b-55
John 1:6-8, 19-28

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings The Rev. Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD

Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c – Sing God’s wonderful works

/ Lil Smith / 1 Comment

Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c

1   O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
2   Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful works.
3   Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4   Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually.
5   Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered,
6   O offspring of his servant Abraham,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

23  Then Israel came to Egypt;
Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham.
24  And the LORD made his people very fruitful,
and made them stronger than their foes,
25  whose hearts he then turned to hate his people,
to deal craftily with his servants.

26  He sent his servant Moses,
and Aaron whom he had chosen.

45cPraise the LORD!

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Sit five to fifteen minutes in silence bringing your attention to the Breath.
  • What song arises in your heart this morning as you sit with this Psalm.
  • Let your focus move to the song arising in your heart.
  • Let the song move from your heart to your lips as you begin to sing out loud.
  • Notice how it feels to sing this song of praise to God.
  • Sing as long as you desire.
  • When you are ready to stop singing through your lips.  Allow the song to remain singing in your heart.
  • Notice the freedom that comes to you in singing.
  • What is your message from God?
  • Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, September 3, 2017, the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings (c) 2017 The Rev. Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD

Advent – Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Anointed to proclaim

/ Lil Smith / Leave a comment

ISAIAH 61:1-4, 8-11

1   The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
2   to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3   to provide for those who mourn in Zion —
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
4   They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.

8   For I the LORD love justice,
I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9   Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.
10  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11  For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Sit in silent meditation five to fifteen minutes paying attention to the deep breath.
  • What word or phrase captures your attention as you read through the text?
  • Allow this word of phrase to grow within you.
  • Read the text again.  What new meaning comes to you as you focus on this word or phrase?
  • How is God anointing you in this word or phrase?
  • Read the text a third time.  What is God asking you to proclaim?
  • Put on this proclamation as if you are putting on a warm coat.
  • Wear it all day.
  • Share the proclamation as God leads you.
  • Give thanks to God for the anointing and the proclamation.  Give thanks for any new insights you have received.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, December 11, 2011, the Second Sunday of Advent Year B 
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126:1-6
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author.
Permission to use in not-for-profit settings The Rev. Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD