Excerpted from 2023 Advent Guide: A Season of Renewal, an Advent Guide for Lectionary Year B from the North Carolina Council of Churches.
Psalm 148
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created.
He established them forever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!
Praise the LORD!
As the Twelve Days of Christmas draw to a close and we prepare for Epiphany, we praise the Lord for all creation.
Christmas is the time for peace, love, joy, and hope. It is a celebration of God with Us. And then where do we go? Must we return to “normal,” without the colorful lights, beautiful music, and family nearby? Actually no. We should continue to praise the Lord! As we prepare for Epiphany, we have even more reasons to recognize God’s grace, respond with gratitude, and share that love with others. Knowing God’s gift of God’s self to the world, provides the example for us to be generous, gracious, understanding, and accepting of others as we move through the year.
Prayer (Matthew 2:13-23):
God of mercy and compassion, we still bask in the warmth of celebrations of Christmas. Alongside these blessings, let us also remember this story of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph fleeing as refugees to escape persecution in their homeland. We pray they found welcome and compassion in their flight, and we pray that the gifts we give and the lives we lead will offer compassion and welcome to your children, wherever they are in need. Help us to be like Jesus. In Christ, who opens his arms to all. Amen.
