Peace On Earth

2003 Advent Devotional Collection

Sunday, December 7
Reading for Today: Galatians 5:22-26

"….The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things." Galatians 5:22-23

Father of all men, look upon our family,
Kneeling together before thee,
And grant us a true Christmas.
With loving heart we bless Thee:
For the gift of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ,
For the peace He brings to human homes,
For the good-will He teaches to sinful men,
For the glory of thy goodness shining in His face.

With joyful voice we praise Thee:
For His lowly birth and His rest in the manger,
For the pure tenderness of His mother Mary,
For the fatherly care that protected Him,
For the providence that saved the Holy child
To be the Savior of the world.

In praying and praising, in giving and receiving,
In eating and drinking, in singing and making merry,
In parents’ gladness and in children’s mirth,
In dear memories of those who have departed,
In good comradeship with those who are here,
In kind wishes for those who are far away,
In patient waiting, sweet contentment, generous cheer,
God bless us every one, with the blessing of Jesus.

By remembering our kinship with all men,
By well-wishing, friendly speaking and kindly doing,
By cheering the downcast and adding sunshine to daylight,
By welcoming strangers (poor shepherds or wise men),
By keeping the music of the angels’ song in this home,
God help us every one to share the blessing of Jesus,

In whose name we keep Christmas… Amen

-from a prayer by Henry Van Dyke

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Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
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