Bethlehem

God of hope, we cling to you, for your renew the face of the earth.

Through the gift of your Son, our Lord Jesus, we follow you on the path of dawn.

Enlightened by your love and wisdom, help us to lead each other and all creatures back to your open arms. Amen.

Mary, the Virgin of expectation and fulfilment,
who hold the secret of Christmas,
make us able to recognize in the Child whom you hold in your arms the heralded Saviour,
who brings hope and peace to all.
With you we worship him and trustingly say: we need You, Redeemer of man,
You who know the hopes and fears of our hearts.
Come and stay with us, Lord.
May the joy of your Nativity reach to the farthest ends of the universe.
Amen.

Loving God,
Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake.
Amen.

Gracious and merciful God,
Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Joseph,
Loyal husband to Mary, Earthly father of the Son.
May we remember his sacrifice and acceptance of God's will,
May we hope and pray to follow in his example,
and through the example of his Son, Jesus.
Allow us to accept God's will, even when it seems impossible,
Help us to know that God has a plan, and it is up to us to choose to accept it and let Him into our hearts and minds.
Let us go forth today spreading the Word of God,
and doing our very best to follow in the example of Joseph and Jesus.
Amen

We are honored to have Father Franciscvs visit us, and we thank him for his beautiful Easter message.

We sometimes forget that Joseph was a foster father. For him to accept Jesus as his own, in his era, was a miracle in itself.

The Lone Ranger wrote:

We sometimes forget that Joseph was a foster father. For him to accept Jesus as his own, in his era, was a miracle in itself.

Especially when we consider the fact that Mary was already pregnant with Jesus, and falling pregnant outside of marriage was rather taboo back then.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

Heavenly Father,
fill our hearts with the joy of Christ’s birth.
Let our homes be places of laughter, love, and peace.
Teach us to share this joy with everyone we meet, reflecting Your goodness and mercy in our words and deeds.
Amen.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

I have arrived on pilgrimage here! May God bless and keep you!!