Private Devotions for The Twelve Days of Christmas “Stations of the Incarnation” A self-guided tour through the story of Incarnation For families and individuals St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church Austin, TX 1 The Annunciation to Mary Our King and Savior now draws near; Come let us adore him. God sent the Angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-28,30-33,38) V. The power of the Most High will overshadow you; R. For nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37) Let us pray. (Silence) O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. 2 The Visitation Our King and Savior now draws near; Come let us adore him. In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted her relative Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’ (Luke 1:39-42,45) V. The Lord will give strength to his king; R. And exalt the power of his anointed. (from ‘The Song of Hannah’, 1 Samuel 2:10) Let us pray. (Silence) Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant that we who honor her may follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. 3 The Journey to Bethlehem Our King and Savior now draws near; Come let us adore him. In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be counted. (This was the first census, and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged, and who was expecting a child. (Luke 2:1-5) V. In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; R. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3) Let us pray. (Silence) O Key of David, scepter of the house of Israel: what you open, none can shut, and what you shut, none can open; Come and free the captives from prison, and bring light of hope to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. Amen Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. 4 The Inn Our King and Savior now draws near; Come let us adore him. While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7) V. Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; R. But the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. (Matthew 8:20) Let us pray. (Silence) Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility: give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, so that when he shall come again in glory to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to everlasting life. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. 5 The Shepherds in the Field Our King and Savior now draws near; Come let us adore him. In that region there were shepherds camping in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ (Luke 2:8-12) V. Watch, for you do not know when the Master will come; R. Lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. (Mark 13:35,36) Let us pray. (Silence) Lord of Hosts, whose holy angels announced to watchful shepherds the coming of your Messiah: Help us to keep watch with them, and make us vigilant until he shall come again in radiant glory. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. 6 The Choir of Angels Our King and Savior now draws near; Come let us adore him. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ (Luke 2:13-15) V. Glory to God in the highest heaven; R. And on earth peace among those he favors. (Luke 2:14) Let us pray. (Silence) O Prince of Peace, who rises as a signal among all peoples, in whose presence rulers stand silent and nations bow in worship, come and deliver us without delay. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. 7 The Crèche Our King and Savior now draws near; Come let us adore him. So the shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words, and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:16-20) V. Behold, the dwelling place of God is with mortals; R. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. (Revelation 21:3) Let us pray. (Silence) Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. 8 The Light of the World Our King and Savior now draws near; Come let us adore him. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-5,14-15a) V. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed; R. And all flesh shall see it together. (Isaiah 40:5) Let us pray. (Silence) Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.