Deuteronomy 7:6-12

Father we confess that although we are a holy people we do not live holy lives.

But you have blessed us;

you have chosen us;

you have set your affection on us;

and you have loved us

Forgive us for not living worthy of your blessing.

Forgive us for asserting our independence despite your choosing.

Forgive us for spurning your affection.

And forgive us for not loving you in return.

Thank you for keeping your promises to save us and redeem us, from the slavery of our sin and from the powers of darkness that have bound us.

You are a faithful God who keeps his covenant of love and his promise of judgement.

Help us to be careful to live for you; undistracted by the siren calls of our world;

For your glory alone we pray.

In Jesus Christ name

Amen

Known by God

Father, I pray for desire.

The desire to love and serve you.

The desire to sacrifice for your glory.

The desire to give and to be used up for your kingdom.

The desire to serve and love people.

May I grow in maturity,

Seeking holiness,

dispensing with sin,

pressing on towards the day when I will see you face to face

May I be willing to share

Share Christ with a lost and dying world

Share what I have with those who have little

May your Spirit change me this year

so that in the future I will not be what I am but what you desire

Saved by your Son

Salt and light to the world

A loved member of your precious bride

Known by You

Amen

Philippians 2:5-11

Christmas Blessing

And now may the majestic king,

the omnipotent God,

and the humble slave,

be the object of your worship this Christmas.

May you grow in your appreciation of his greatness.

May you bow in honour of his majesty.

May his Son be the hope of your heart.

May your values and affections become increasingly Christlike,

May you overflow in gratitude for his mercy,

And may you trust his goodness more.

May his Spirit bless you with the knowledge of his presence and his transforming power.

And may you love the God of Christmas more.

Looking onwards to the day when we will stand before him - our great God, born into our world as a slave that first Christmas day.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Philippians 2:5-11

Almighty Father, at this Christmas time we remember that you are

The majestic king,

The omnipotent God,

And the humble slave.

Your Son made himself nothing,

took into his infinity, our humanity,

and died in our place.

Forgive

our impudence,

our independence,

our arrogance,

our ignorance,

and our willful neglect of you.

Grow in us an appreciation of your greatness.

Grow our gratitude for your mercy.

Grow our trust in your goodness.

Grow our hope in your plan.

Grow our worship of your person.

And grow our love for you.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the one before whom every knee will bow and every tongue confess, our great God, born into our world as a slave that first Christmas day.

Amen