Thank you so much for this!  I know for me, this time of year is always a struggle between the many tasks at hand (the rehearsals you mentioned and such) and taking the time to really receive Christ again as He comes.  How much more will those people who do come to church at Christmastime, perhaps for the very first time, be drawn to Him if the light and the truth that is Him is shining in our eyes and through our song.  So I add to your prayer, may the gift of Christ, who has been given to each of us, radiate through these wonderful songs of the season, both in church and out.  May it be revealed to the world that lay in sin and error pining that He has, in fact, appeared, in order to allow our souls to feel their worth.  O most holy night.  Hallelujah!  He has come.

Merry Christmas! 

Rebecca

 

 

Thanks much for the prayers poured out for us. Here are a couple of prayers that have spoken to me this week...

For Christmas Eve:

Almighty God,
as we prepare with joy
to celebrate the gift of the Christ-child,
embrace the earth with your glory
and e for us a living hope
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen


For Christmas Night

Eternal God,
in the stillness of this night
you sent your almighty Word
to pierce the world's darkness with the light of salvation:
give to the earth the peace that we long for
and fill our hearts with the joy of heaven
through our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

What a wonderful idea to pray for all the worship leaders and worship artists at this busy time of year!  At the seminary, we've finished the flurry of activity and extra services and I can take a deep breath.   Yes, there were moments where I wasn't receiving the peace of God.  When the third person spoke to me to tell me that I looked like something was wrong, I realized that I needed to stop and thank God for His presence.

 It's funny what we end up doing, isn't it?  Maybe you're coordinating the Worship Arts, but you find you're spending quality time in Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, JoAnn Fabrics, Blick's Arts Store, Kinko's and all varieties of grocery stores.  I'd like to read or talk with people more about planning larger projects or units or seasons.  It's a different kind of planning, isn't it?  For me, it's a different way of encouraging and involving the congregation and the volunteers too.  Planning, pacing, valuing, evaluating, learning, and starting again.  Offering apologies, receiving forgiveness -- because it's impossible to do this job, to lead people thru worship in this very meaningful, vulnerable time of year,  and not to somehow accidentally offend or hurt.

Anyway,  I'm filled with memories of so many lovely moments.  Bob Dvorak leading singing while doing Christmas Carol Stand-Up Comedy.  The toddlers coming forward during candlelight communion and taking a few grapes.  A bunch of us gathered around a table adding to an Advent banner, with the lunch crowd walking by.   A healing service that was scheduled to last one hour but went closer to two with so many staying to sing and pray.

I'm praying for you all, all your hard work, your wonderful congregations.  Grace, peace, strength, comfort and joy.

Margaret Brady, NPTS Seminary Chapel

Oh, thanks so much for this affirming prayer for Advent! It is very appropriate for us here in Hilmar as we are anticipating our second night of performances of "A Living Nativity" this Friday evening. We need all the prayers for energy, health, and protection that can be mustered! Along with actors, singers, soloists, accompanists, and technical details, we have live animals, 20 children, 18 angels, a six week old baby Jesus, and seven foot "star of Bethlehem"--all outdoors--that need to be ready for our three presentations. I will share your words with our entire group before we begin on Friday and let them know that we have been prayed for by Covenanters far from here. This is so powerful--thanks again.

My prayer for all of us who are active, caught up in minutiae and details, often worried over services and productions and special presentations, is that we will keep a special place inside of us that is quiet and peaceful, waiting once again for the arrival of the Christ Child this Christmas, 2006. For this is how we need to live all the time: that in the busy-ness and rush of everyday life, we who know Jesus have a point inside of us that is firmly centerted on and connected to God, which enables us to live without fear or worry no matter what is happening around us. In Paul's words to the Philippians: "Rejoice in the Lord always! Do not be anxious about anything. The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Daniel Johnson
Hilmar Covenant Church
Hilmar, California

Thanks, Katie, and everyone else for your great prayers and thoughts... I love the practicality of your prayer, Katie... Yes! No sore throats, tech failures, missed rehearsals!

 I had a particularly challenging night on Tuesday as my wife (who is also my administrative assistant) and I tried to tear through some Advent readings and prayers with our kids in a way-too-short time. We were wound up, they were wound up. Chaos ensued. I got mad and reacted harshly and then had to come back and talk to them about my failure and ask forgiveness, while at the same time trying to hold them to some standards and talk about the issues that had provoked me in the first place! All in all, not a peaceful night. And I fear that this is what the pastor's kids will remember about Christmas when they are lying on their therapists' couches in 20 years or so. :)

I am trying to remember the wonderful prayer that recovering addicts of all stripes pray every day and every meeting... God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

I remember thinking that prayer was so stupid... so trite, so cliche... but the power of that prayer has grown in me over the years, and I find that at this busy season, I am especially living in the first part: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.

So, for me, that has looked like this over the past several weeks: God, grant me the serenity to ACCEPT that the guy who was supposed to get me 4 timpani for the big concert fell through and that I have to frantically call and email dozens of people to find a new set in 2 days' time. Help me ACCEPT that I didn't start rehearsing Rutter's Gloria in June, like I should have, but instead waited until October. Help me ACCEPT that Christmas Eve will be here in three days, ready or not! And then do the best I can with reality. Turn it over to God, right here and now, and trust Him to make it what He will make it.

So, after that rambling reply... My prayer for all of us:

Almighty Father: You know and love us like no one else has or could. You know our fears, our stresses, our challenges, our readiness. You know our strengths and our successes. We thank You for knowing us fully and loving us fully.

Help us to surrender to You today, to give You our plans, our dreams, our fears, our excitement.

Help us to rest in You: to take time out of the busyness to actually BE instead of just to DO.

Grant us the serenity to accept those things that we cannot change, whatever they may be, and to allow You to make of them what You will.

Be glorified in our own lives and hearts, in our families, in our congregations as we gather this weekend to celebrate Your coming to us in Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever... Amen

Peace of Christ to all of us...

Matt Nightingale

Peninsula Covenant Church

Redwood City, CA

Thanks Matt for sharing your feeling and thoughts. I needed to read something about it. Sometimes I think so anyboby feels so stressfull and alone doing something for Christmas. It is not easy to work with Kids and Young people but God is so wonderful because we can find His presence and His peace when we look for Him. I give thanks to God for finding this site. I ask for your prayers at this time.

Thanks again and God bless you

Joel Valle

Music Ministry/ Nueva Vision Covenant Church

Winnetka, CA 91306

 

Hey Joel!

Great to see you here... I've been trying to get ahold of you... Call me if you get a chance... I want to invite you to our PSWC worship retreat on January 8 & 9... 650-218-0544 is my cell phone.

 This goes for other PSWC worhip leaders as well... We still have room. Call me for details. It'll be a wonderful 24 hours!

Matt

I am a new member in this site.

My name is Joel and I work as Music Ministry at Nueva Vision Covenant Church (Hispanic Congregation). Thank you for the prayers.

I'd like to share what God is doing with our church.

Check this attachment.

Happy New Year.

 

Joel 

Hi Joel. I went to your website and read about the music school you offer to the community. What a tremendous ministry adventure. One of my daughters plans to study and teach music. I told her, "There's nothing more significant one could do to serve the Kingdom and world." Music lessons are so expensive, and unless the parents understand the value and are able to pay the fees, many children will never have a chance to develop the gift of music God has put within them.

Thanks for letting us know about this.

Katie