FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS - THE DAILY OFFICE

The Mystical Nativity - Sandro Botticelli

At The Daily Office website is a beautiful Festival of Lessons and Carols which includes the lessons from Scripture, audios and videos of carols, and lovely works of art to view as you read and/or listen to the podcasts of the lessons.  Above is Botticelli's Nativity painting as featured in the service.  Below is the music video at the site of the choir of King's College, Cambridge singing "This Is the Truth Sent From Above".

"THEY HAVE NAMES"

SSgt. Salvatore Giunta received the Medal of Honor, America's highest military award for bravery in combat, November 16, 2010 at the White House.

From today's Daily Office.

18 U.S. Military Killed in Afghanistan Last Week
11.21.10

US Air Force SrA Andrew S Bubacz, 23, Dalzell, SC
US Army CPL Shawn D Fannin, 32, Wheelersberg, OH
US Army SGT Edward H Bolen, 25, Chittenango, NY
US Army SPC Shannon Chihuahua, 25, Thomasville, GA
US Army SPC David C Lutes, 28, Frostberg, MD
US Army SSG Juan L Rivadeneira, 27, Davie, FL
US Army CPL Jacob R Carver, 20, Freeman, MO
US Army SPC Jacob C Carroll, 20, Clemmons, NC
US Army SSG Kevin M Pape, 30, Fort Wayne, IN
US Marines SSgt Javier O Ortiz Rivera, 26, Rochester, NY
US Army SPC Shane H Ahmed, 31, Chesterfield, MI
US Army SPC Nathan E Lillard, 26, Knoxville, TN
US Army SPC Scott T Nagorski, 27, Greenfield, WI
US Army SPC Jesse A Snow, 25, Fairborn, OH
US Army PFC Christian M Warriner, 19, Mills River, NC
US Army SSG David P Senft, 27, Grass Valley, CA
US Army PFC Kyle M Holder, 18, Conroe, TX
US Army SPC Justin E Culbreth, 26, Colorado Springs, CO

For those who have died:

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servants, being raised with him, may know the strength of his presence, and rejoice in his eternal glory; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For those in the Armed Forces of our Country:

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Since I visit nearly every day, I'm grateful to Josh Thomas and others who offer their services to gather the resources for daily prayer at The Daily Office website.

SINGING THE COLD BLUES

Today I stayed home from church because I have a cold of the constant sneezing, runny nose and eyes variety. Best to stay home and not spread the germs around. Besides, I look a fright. That's the bad news.

The good news is that I haven't had a such a cold since last year when I was in England, and I spent the afternoon sneezing and wiping my nose and eyes with Doorman-Priest and his family. I didn't want to spread my germs at their house either, and I begged and pleaded with DP, on my knees even, for him to drive me back to my hotel, but he and his lovely wife would not hear of it. Anyway, to have gone a whole year without a cold is a good thing, yes?

In lieu of attending church, I prayed The Daily Office at the website of Mission St. Clare. The words from the Office which resonated with me are below.


PSALM 118:

The LORD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.


From SUFFRAGES B:

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;

Govern and uphold them, now and always.

Day by day we bless you;

We praise your name for ever.

Lord, keep us from all sin today;

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

Lord, show us your love and mercy;

For we put our trust in you.

In you, Lord, is our hope;

And we shall never hope in vain.


GENERAL THANKSGIVING:

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.


And let us pray that the US House of Representives votes "Yes" on health care reform today.