Feast Of St. Stephen The Martyr

(Painting by Vincenzo Foppa)

Readings:

AM: Psalm 28, 30; 2 Chronicles 24:17-22; Acts 6:1-7
PM: Psalm 118; Wisdom 4:7-15; Acts 7:59-8:8

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth* will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.’ And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
....

When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him.

PRAYER

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand: where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

UPDATE: From Canada Tim Chesterton:

Check out my Reverbnation page here for my recording of the Boxing Day carol 'Good King Wenceslas'.

Do check it out. It's quite good. Tim's back blogging after his Advent fast.

It's Still Christmas - Day 2

 

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 favours!’
Luke 2:13-14

Pictured above is one of a pair of Christmas stockings in needlepoint, which depict Fra Anglelico's musical angels from the paintings in the Museo San Marco in Florence.

"Nativity" And "Nativity"

"Nativity" - Fra Angelico

Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb,
Now leaves His well-belov'd imprisonment,
There He hath made Himself to His intent
Weak enough, now into the world to come;
But O, for thee, for Him, hath the inn no room?
Yet lay Him in this stall, and from the Orient,
Stars and wise men will travel to prevent
The effect of Herod's jealous general doom.
Seest thou, my soul, with thy faith's eyes, how He
Which fills all place, yet none holds Him, doth lie?
Was not His pity towards thee wondrous high,
That would have need to be pitied by thee?
Kiss Him, and with Him into Egypt go,
With His kind mother, who partakes thy woe.

"Nativity" by John Donne

Please Pray

From Renzmqt:

Gram. can you help me get the word out. I'm asking for prayers for my work partner Mary Ann and her family. Her mother was found unresponsive in her driveway about an hour ago. Mary Ann is waiting to hear if they will be transporting her to our local Med Ctr before heading down to Crystal Falls (about 1 1/2 hours away). They don't know what happened - they're trying to warm her up - it's bitter cold up here. Apparently she was on her way to pick up her significant other from church, she never showed up so he got a ride with someone else and they found her. Mary Ann is also waiting to hear a prognosis before calling her sister who lives in Dayton, OH. So, please, prayers for Mary Ann and her family.

UPDATE:

renzmqt said...

She apparently has suffered a bleed, right side is weak. Its possible that the bitter cold actually helped keep her alive. They were transporting her to either Madison or Green Bay. Mary Ann was getting ready to head south and her sister was heading west from Ohio. Thanks for your prayers.

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

 

Isaiah 9:6-7

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,
upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it
with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel", which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

A Blessed and Merry Christmas to all!

Note: Many years ago, my mother made the Nativity set in the picture in a ceramics class. I think it's lovely, and, of course, I treasure the set, because she made it for me. In due time, the Three Kings and the camels shall miraculously appear.

The post is timed for Christmas Day on the East Coast. I'll be in church.

First Present Opened!

Today I opened my first present. It's from me to me. I bought new speakers for my desktop computer. My speakers were quite old and quite cheap, leftovers from my very first computer. They came with the cheapo package of computer, monitor, keyboard, and speakers. I replaced all the components except the speakers. Little did I know how bad they were and how much I was missing until a young friend installed the new speakers for me. Yay! I'm in the real music business now. They're not the most expensive speakers in the world, but compared to what I had, they're like being at a live concert.

Prayer For Peace

The list at the Global Peace Index shows:

the GPI rankings for the 140 countries analysed in 2008 and the 121 countries analysed in 2007, as well as year-on-year comparison. Countries most at peace are ranked first. A lower score indicates a more peaceful country. You can click on a country to see the detail of its peace indicators and drivers.

Below are the 15 most violent countries listed in descending order to the most violent, which is Iraq.

Myanmar

Pakistan

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Nigeria

Colombia

Russia

Lebanon

North Korea

Central African Republic

Chad

Israel

Afghanistan

Sudan

Somalia

Iraq

Let us remember the people living in the midst of turmoil and violence during the season when we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace.

Prayer For Peace

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

[Book of Common Prayer, p. 815]

"With God On Our Side"

Prayer For Those In The Armed Forces

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.

(Book of Common Prayer, p. 823)

Thought For The Day From Gandhi

My friend, Georgianne, always ends her email messages with this quote from Gandhi:

“Everything you do will be meaningless, but you must do it.”

Winter Funnies

With thanks to Doug. Doug gives gifts all year round for your pleasure and my pleasure.