Welcome to Our Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg
Nativity Prayer of St. Augustine link
Let the just rejoice,
for their justifier is born.
Let the sick and infirm rejoice,
For their saviour is born.
Let the captives rejoice,
For their Redeemer is born.
Let slaves rejoice,
for their Master is born.
Let free men rejoice,
For their Liberator is born.
Let All Christians rejoice,
For Jesus Christ is born.
Amen
Advent Prayer for Courage and Strength link
Oh, Jesus, what courage it must have taken Mary and Joseph to make that trip to Bethlehem.
She was so near her time of delivering, and she left her family and traveled with Joseph for the census.
With no place to sleep, they both must have felt some fear.
Yet over and again you offered reassurance:
Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary into your home.
Do not be afraid, Zechariah.
And to the shepherds, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy.
The story of your nativity is filled with comfort and courage,
for them and for us.
Give us the strength we need
and help us to see those around us who are in fear and need our support on this day.
Amen
Scripture Reading: Lamentations 3:19-25 (NASB Bible Gateway)
Hope of Relief in God’s Mercy
Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.
Surely my soul remembers
And is bowed down within me.
This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I have hope in Him.”
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
Benediction and Celebration:
Isaiah 9:6 (Bible Gateway-KJV)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Hallelujah!
1st
@ drstevej:
Merry Christmas! My daughter and I are returning home from a beautiful candlelight service. Grateful for the gift of Jesus!
Merry Christmas, all.
Spent a nice evening with a friend and her family and a beatific service at their LCMS church.
May we all truly know His peace.
GMFS; and a very happy Christmas to Wartburgers the world over.
Loved the bit about courage and strength. This morning my mom called me a feminist (even though I’m pretty conservative and in no way am a bra burning man hater) to my face after seeing me mention on Facebook in a discussion with a complementarian jerk that even though I was a wife I had no spiritual authority except the Lord. (Thank you for you, Wade, for your beautiful article on things women should know.) So… Merry Christmas to me. :-/
@ Nick Bulbeck:
Merry Christmas to you and all our wonderful friends here at TWW!
Merry Christmas Wade! I loved this message and believe many in our TWW community will find it encouraging.
May you, Rachelle, and your family have a blessed time celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thanks for allowing us to feature your sermons here at TWW!
Merry Christmas WW!
@ Jim:
Hi Jim! It’s GREAT to hear from you. You were such an inspiration to us before we launched our blog and in the early years.
Trust you are doing well.
Merry Christmas!
… and on earth peace, good will toward men.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouu6LGGIWsc
Thanks, Wanda and I Fear a Cage!
I appreciate the ministry of Wartburg to the wounded, and am grateful for the Balm in Gilead who came for us!
I Fear a Cage wrote:
It’s easy to forget that “friend of sinners” was first meant as an insult…
btw, I have toured the Wartburg Castle. Amazing place.
@ Muff Potter:
loved this! 🙂
Merry Christmas everyone.
Thank you for those who gave to Shauna and her son Billy’s GoFundMe account so that she could provide a Christmas for Billy and pay for basic necessities.
Thank you for keeping their little family in prayer.
Thank you too for helping Jeanette and her GoFundMe and keeping her needs in prayer.
@ drstevej:
I would love to do this someday!
@ Velour:
Thanks for the update!
Deb wrote:
Thank you, Deb, for everything you and Dee do. Your ministry has saved and changed so many lives.
Merry Christmas Deb and Dee.
@ Velour:
You are so kind. 2017 may be our best year yet!
Deb wrote:
You are too, Deb. Same with Dee.