christmas season devotion book… · for the twelve days of christmas and one bonus devotion for...

12 Days of Christmas Christmas Season Devotion Book

St. John Lutheran Church Plymouth, WI

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Rejoice at Christmas 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. – Luke 2:17-20

Our Christmas celebration isn’t limited to one day. Rather, we celebrate for twelve days. For, Christmas isn’t a day – it’s a season. Our celebration begins on Christmas Day (with the birth of Jesus) and culminates on Epiphany (with the arrival of the Wise Men). Like the shepherds, on that first Christmas, we rejoice in the good news that our Savior is born. We celebrate, praise God, and share with others this good news. Rejoice – our Savior has come!

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How To Use This Devotion

Use this daily devotion (13 devotions in total – twelve devotions for the twelve days of Christmas and one bonus devotion for the Epiphany of our Lord) to deepen your understanding of our Lord Jesus who has come in the flesh and dwells among us. There are many traditions to explain the meaning of the popular song known as The Twelve Days of Christmas. This devotional book will follow one tradition which connects each day of Christmas to an important aspect of our Christian faith. Each devotion includes a Scripture Reading, a short Online Teaching, and a Prayer. First, read through the scripture reading. Then, watch the short online teaching (from our pastors and members of our church family – connecting the daily reading to our lives). To close, pray together as a family.

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Important Information Daily Devotion Dates

• Starts on Christmas Day (December 25th)

• Ends on Epiphany Day (January 6th) Watch the Online Teaching

• Church Website: www.sjlplymouth.com • Church Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/sjlplymouth

http://www.sjlplymouth.com/

http://www.facebook.com/sjlplymouth

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Helpful Guide Use this glossary (of the terms in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas) to guide your study and reflection.

12 Days of Christmas The length of the Christmas Season

True Love Not an earthly suitor, but referring to God

Me Every baptized child of God Partridge in a Pear Tree Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Two Turtle Doves The Old and New Testaments Three French Hens Faith, Hope, and Love Four Calling Birds The four gospels:

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Five Golden Rings The first five books of the Bible Six Geese A-Laying The six days of creation

Seven Swans A-Swimming

The seven petitions of the Lord’s Prayer

Eight Maids A-Milking The eight Beatitudes Nine Ladies Dancing The nine fruits of the Spirit:

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness,

Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control

Ten Lords A-Leaping The Ten Commandments Eleven Pipers Piping The eleven faithful disciples

Twelve Drummers Drumming

The twelve points of belief confessed in the Apostles’ Creed

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The First

Day of Christmas

December 25

Read Luke 2:6-7 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Online Teaching Watch the short online teaching video.

Prayer Almighty God, You came as a helpless baby to be our help. Thank you for protecting us and keeping us safe through Your sacrifice and death upon a cross. Use us to proclaim the good news of our Savior’s birth in church, in home, in school, and in all the places where we dwell; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The Second Day of

Christmas December 26

Read Luke 24:44-48 44 Then [Jesus] said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.


Prayer Almighty God, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Increase our saving knowledge of You and provide comfort by Your holy Word; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The

Third Day of


Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 12-13 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.


Prayer Almighty God, grant us a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, a cheerful hope in Your mercy, and a sincere love for You and one another; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The

Fourth Day of


Read John 20:30-31 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.


Prayer Almighty God, because of Your tender love toward us You have given us Your Son that, believing in Him, we might have everlasting life. Cause us to remain steadfast in this faith and walk in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The Fifth

Day of Christmas

December 29

Read John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.


Prayer Almighty God, lighten our darkness and by Your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers. We thank and praise You for Your Word which is read, taught, and preached among us. Invigorate our study of the scriptures and lead us to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The Sixth

Day of Christmas

December 30

Read Hebrews 11:1-3 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.


Prayer Almighty God, thank you for the beautiful world you have created. Enable us to be good stewards of all that you have given to us. Keep us in Your faith and devoted to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The

Seventh Day of


Read Matthew 6:8b-13 8b Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.


Prayer Almighty God, You have promised to hear our prayers and supplications. Grant that we may ask for things according to Your will and that we would receive everything we need. Shape us to bring glory to You in all circumstances; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The Eighth Day of

Christmas January 1

Read Matthew 5:2-10 2 And [Jesus] opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


Prayer Almighty God, let Your blessing remain with us throughout this day. Protect and guide us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The Ninth Day of

Christmas January 2

Read Galatians 5:22-24 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.


Prayer Almighty God, through Holy Baptism You called us to be Your own possession. Grant that our lives may evidence the working of Your Holy Spirit in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, according to the image of Your only-begotten Son; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The Tenth Day of

Christmas January 3

Read Exodus 20: 1-3, 7a, 8, 12a, 13-17 1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 7a “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. 8

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 12a “Honor your father and your mother. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”


Prayer Almighty God, enable us to resist all evil, live a godly life, and follow the example of our Savior; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The Eleventh

Day of Christmas

January 4

Read Luke 6:13a, 14-16a 13a And when day came, [Jesus] called his disciples: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16a and Judas the son of James


Prayer Almighty God, You bless the instruction of Your disciples and train them in Your Word. In our various callings, strengthen our witness to the world and direct our service to our neighbor; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The Twelfth Day of

Christmas January 5

Read Romans 10:9-13 9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”


Prayer Almighty God, Your great love and undeserved sacrifice rescues from sin, death, and the devil’s power. Give us the confidence and boldness to confess You as Lord and so live and die within Your loving care; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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The Epiphany

of our Lord January 6

Read Matthew 2:9b-11 9b And behold, the star that [the wise men] had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.


Prayer Almighty God, You revealed Your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to know Your presence in our lives so that we might rejoice greatly in our Savior; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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St. John Lutheran 222 N. Stafford St.

Plymouth, WI 53073 www.sjlplymouth.com

http://www.sjlplymouth.com/

christmas season devotion book… · for the twelve days of christmas and one bonus devotion for...

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