Peace On Earth

2003 Advent Devotional Collection

Sunday, December 21
Readings for Today: Isaiah 52:7-10; Luke 2:8-14

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, “your God reigns.”

Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion.
Break forth into singing,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
***
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!”

Prayer for Today: We rejoice always, O God of joy, in the good news of great joy you send us. Let us reveal to the joyless world the kinship we have to you by the happiness we have in this good news. Amen.

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Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
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