Welcome! As you journey through these Twelve Day of Christmas we invite you to use this approach, which works well for individuals and groups of all ages.

Light a candle. Pause to remember the presence of God filling you with Light and Love.

Pray this Opening Prayer:

Radiant Creator, awaken me to your presence.
Jesus, Light of all Lights, kindle love in my heart.
Spirit of Illumination, guide my path today.

Christmas Reflection for the Day:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

        “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:8-20)

Let us go forth,
In the goodness of our Merciful Father,
In the gentleness of our Brother Jesus,
In the radiance of his Holy Spirit. …
Let us go forth in
The wisdom of the all-seeing Father,
In the patience of our all-loving Brother,
In the truth of our all-knowing Spirit. …
Such is the path
For all servants of Christ,
The path from death to eternal life. (Celtic prayer)

Merry Christmas!

During this adventure of the Twelve Days of Christmas we will discover that “Christmas is not not just a long season of shopping followed by one day of partying; it is twelve days of adventure that beckon us to a lifetime of incarnational living.” (Bruce Epperly)

Thought for Today: Angels, messengers of God, are at the heart of the Christmas stories, revealing God’s desire to reach out to humankind in healing and life-transforming ways. In the biblical tradition and throughout history, angels come to us in forms we need, presenting us with the messages we need to hear in this moment of time. Angels remind us that we are never alone and without resource. God is with us providing us with everything we need to flourish and bless the world. Could an angel be reaching out to you at this moment? (Adapted from Bruce Epperly)

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Set your intention for the day. Say: Today I will listen for the singing of the angels.

Daily Christmas Prayer: God of the angels, come sing to us. Awaken our senses to Divine messages in every encounter and give us the insight and courage to follow God’s way. In Christ’s Name.

Together on the Journey,

Katie Martinez

P.S. Some of us are reading along in the short devotional book, Thin Places Everywhere: The Twelve Days of Christmas with Celtic Christianity.