When do the Twelve Days of Christmas begin? On Christmas Day itself - leading us to TWELFTH NIGHT, the eve of Epiphany, January 6.
Through these dozen days, Night Prayer will focus each evening on one
of the many gifts the Christmas season brings us. Tonight: the
gift of good friends... No partridges in pear trees
here - but you can sing my 12 days to the familiar tune!
On the fifth day of Christmas,
the good Lord gave to me:
Friends as good as gold!
Faith in God above,
Angels sent from heaven,
Shepherds keeping watch
and a Child born in Bethlehem town...
How fine the gift of friendship, Lord!
Good friends, old friends,
new friends, work friends,
wise friends, fun friends,
family friends, loyal friends,
true friends, honest friends,
school friends, social friends,
best friends, long-distance friends,
friends in faith and FaceBook friends
- how fine the gift of friendship, Lord!
I'm grateful, Lord,
for friends who always have my back,
friends who don't forget me,
friends who never let me down,
friends who always have time for me,
friends who give so generously
- and never count the cost,
friends who always tell the truth,
friends I can depend on...
And thank you, Lord, for friends
whose patience knows no end,
who pardon and forgive me,
who praise me and critique me,
who pray for me and stay with me,
who always save a place for me,
who wait for me when I am late,
who without fail remember me,
who comfort me in sad times,
who share my every joy,
who live within my heart of hearts,
whose hearts are home to me...
I thank you for my closest friends,
friends as good as purest gold,
whose love and prayer and sacrifice
draw me to you, the very best of all my friends:
my Savior and my Lord...
(I want to take some time here, Lord,
to lift to you in prayer the names of friends
for whom I'm grateful this night...)
Make me a friend to others, Lord,
as you're a friend to me...
Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
Two songs for our prayer this evening:
the first might lead to prayer for all our friends,
or to our Friend of all friends, Jesus;
the second is clearly a hymn, reminding us
of what a Friend we have in Jesus...
MMMMMMMM
What A Friend We Have In Jesus by Graham/Angerman
What a friend we have in Jesus
all our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer
O what peace we often forfeit O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer
Have we trials and temptations
Is there trouble anywhere
We should never be discouraged
take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share
Jesus knows our every weakness
take it to the Lord in prayer
Are we weak and heavy laden
cumbered with a load of care
Precious Savior, still our refuge
take it to the Lord in prayer
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee Take it to the Lord in prayer
In his arms he'll take and shield thee
thou wilt find a solace there
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