John

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Lord, we confess that we sometimes prefer the darkness to your light.

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Scripture

John 1:, John 3:19-21, James 1:17, John 8:12, Romans 13:12

Lord, we confess that we sometimes prefer the darkness to your light. We turn away, we hide, we seek our own way. Forgive us Lord, and renew in us a desire to walk in your light and to reflect your li...

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A Light in the Darkness

Author

Caroline Cobb

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:1-13

“They will look toward the earth and see only distress, darkness, and the gloom of affliction, and they will be driven into thick darkness.” (Isa. 8:22) In The Two Towers , the second novel in Tolki...

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Prayer for All Needs (Excerpted)

Author

Clement of Rome

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 1:, Isaiah 45:7, 1 Samuel 2:6-7, 1 Peter 2:9, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Psalm 146:7-9, Isaiah 61:1, John 3:16, Colossians 1:13, Revelation 4:11, Ephesians 5:8, Acts 26:18, 2 Timothy 1:9, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Luke 1:51-52, Luke 4:18-19

*This is the earliest known prayer of the Christian Church outside of scripture May he who created everything keep the number of his chosen people, throughout the world, up to the strength he...

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Author

Barbara Brown Taylor

Keywords

Scripture

1 John 1:9, John 1:5, Ephesians 5:8, Genesis 1:3

Darkness is not the opposite of light; it is the absence of light.

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Author

Gregory of Nyssa

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Scripture

Exodus 3:2-6 , Job 38:4-7, Isaiah 6:1-4, Psalm 104:1-4, John 1:1-5, 14, Colossians 1:16-17

What Moses saw in the burning bush was nothing less than “the transcendent essence and cause of the universe, on which everything depends, alone subsists.

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God is my light and my salvation

Author

Steve Garnaas Holmes

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 27:, John 8:12, Philippians 4:6-7 , Matthew 6:25-34 , Isaiah 60:19-20 , Exodus 14:13-14, Psalm 27:1-3

Leader: God is my light and my salvation; of whom should I be afraid? All: Though violence rise all around me I will not be drawn into fear. One thing I asked of God, that will I seek af...

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Children Learning Courage

Author

Barbara Brown Taylor

Keywords

Scripture

Joshua 1:9, Exodus 20:21, Isaiah 42:16, John 12:46, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Psalm 27:1

Every now and then it shows through the clouds that are moving across its face. One moment it looks like the eye of a hawk in profile. The next it looks like the eye at the top of the pyramid on a dol...

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The Three Twilights

Author

Barbara Brown Taylor

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 1:3-5, Exodus 10:21-23, Isaiah 50:10, John 8:12, Mark 13:35-37, Psalm 121:5-6

In the midst of an experiment to become more attuned to darkness, author and pastor Barbara Brown Taylor decided to spend time outside as dark sets in: According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, eve...

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Chiaroscuro: Light and Dark Together

Author

Nancy Ortberg

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 1:3-4, Exodus 10:21-23, Isaiah 9:2, John 1:4-5, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Psalm 112:4

The very nature of light provides contrast. In juxtaposition, differing levels of light illuminate in extraordinary ways, helping us to see what we’ve been missing. In the late 1400s, the art world ma...

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Jesus said, “I am the light of the world

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

John 20:31, 2 Timothy 1:10, Isaiah 61:1-3, 1 John 1:5b–7, Ezekiel 36:26-27, John 8:12

Leader: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” People: God is light, and in Him is no darkness at ...

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God’s Word is indeed a lamp

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 5:20 , Jeremiah 23:29, Matthew 5:14-16, John 1:5, Ephesians 5:8-10, Psalm 119:9-16, 105, 111, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Pastor: God’s Word is indeed a lamp; in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life of following Jesus. As we prepare to worship this day, ...

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Almighty Father, Guide Our Steps

Author

W. Walsham How

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 60:1-3, Exodus 13:21-22, Ephesians 5:8-10, Psalm 27:1, John 8:12

O Almighty Father, giver of every good and perfect gift, who has made the light of your truth shine in our hearts: Make us to walk as children of light in all goodness and righteousness, that we may h...

Quote

Author

Daniel P. Schrock

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 15:12-17, Exodus 10:21-23, Matthew 26:36-46, Psalm 22:, John 11:1-44

The dark night is a key part of God’s missional purpose in the world.

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Peace Among Nations Prayed

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 1:1-5, Isaiah 60:1-3, John 8:12, Matthew 5:14-16, Psalm 27:1

Pastor: Let us pray to the God who has given us the light of day and the Light of eternal life through Jesus Christ, His Son. Lord, make the beauty of Your Light shine brightly on us so that it m...

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Walking in Darkness, Light Found

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 53:5, Genesis 1:1-5, John 1:1-14, Matthew 2:1-12, Psalm 27:1

Pastor: As in the time of Isaiah, there are times when we are walking in darkness. Let us ask God to light our hearts with the light of the Epiphany star. May its brightness dispel the darkness of o...

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Hope Through Divine Light

Author

Laura B. Murray

Keywords

Scripture

John 8:12, Psalm 27:1 , John 1:5, Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 5:14-16, Proverbs 3:5-6, Ephesians 5:8-9

All-gracious God, you promise that your light drowns out darkness, yet the darkness is so persistent. We cannot see in front of us, so we look to our own knowledge and ways. Forgive us for turning to ...

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Light Guides Our Steps

Author

Steve Garnaas Holmes

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 119:105, Isaiah 9:2, John 1:4-5 , Matthew 5:14-16, Luke 1:78-79

Leader: God of promise, God of Mystery, you have sent a messenger to awaken us. All: May the promise of your dawn awaken our hearts and minds. May the light of your promise g...

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In this dark time of year, God, we long for your coming.

Author

Steve Garnaas Holmes

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 60:1-3, Psalm 34:5, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-18, Romans 8:23-25, Romans 15:13, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Hebrews 10:23, Psalm 23:4, 1 Peter 5:9-10

In this dark time of year, God, we long for your coming. When darkness falls upon the world, we long for your peace. For healing, we wait. For justice, we hope. Strengthen our hearts, that we may be s...

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God of light, in the darkness of this world your dawn

Author

Steve Garnaas Holmes

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:, John 8:12-20, James 1:17, Isaiah 60:1-5, 1 John 1:5-10

God of light, in the darkness of this world your dawn is rising. Your love is at work. Waken our hearts. Keep us ready to see you. Open the ears of our hearts, ready to hear you. Speak, for in the dar...

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In the midst of darkness, candles have shone.

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 11:1-10, John 1:1-14, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 1:39-45, Matthew 1:18-25, Micah 5:2

Pastor: In the midst of darkness, candles have shone. Congregation: Glory to God in the highest! Pastor:: In the midst of darkness, we have seen the light of Christ. Congregation: ...

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At just the right time, when all was still, and it was midnight

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2, John 1:5, Isaiah 9:2b, John 1:14, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:4

Following the lighting of candles, this prayer may be prayed by the congregation. Suitable songs include "Silent Night." Pastor: At just the right time, when all was still, and it was ...

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Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born;

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 2:11, John 1:5

Pastor: Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born; People: He is Christ the Lord! Luke 2:11 Pastor: Let us go from this place proclaiming that we have seen the glory of G...

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On this Christmas morning, let us pray to our incarnate Lord

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:1-5, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-25

Pastor: On this Christmas morning, let us pray to our incarnate Lord, who has brought us out of darkness and into His own marvelous light. Christ born for us, Son of God given for us: People: ...

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Heavenly Father, You do not want anyone to suffer in darkness

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

John 17:11, Philippians 2:5, 1 Peter 3:15

Leader: Heavenly Father, You do not want anyone to suffer in darkness or separation, but rather for everyone to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. As members of your family, may we remembe...

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Star: A Poem

Author

Eugene H. Peterson

Keywords

Scripture

Numbers 24:17, Isaiah 9:2, Psalm 119:105, John 8:12, Malachi 4:2, Luke 2:25-32

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh:a star shall come out of jacob. Numbers 24:17 KSV No star is visible except at night, Until the sun goes down, no accurate north. Da...

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The Rarity of Light

Author

Paula Huston

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2, John 1:1-5, John 8:12, Psalm 27:1, Luke 2:9, Ephesians 5:8, Psalm 23:4, Luke 2:1-2

In the great scheme of things, light is actually quite rare. Geo-physicists tell us that 71 percent of the earth’s surface lies under the ocean, which means that most of our planet abides in eternal d...

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Achulophobia: The Fear of Darkness

Author

James Merritt

Keywords

Scripture

John 8:12

Years ago, my wife and I traveled to Kentucky where I went to seminary and decided to stop and tour Mammoth Cave. The trip marked my first and only time ever to be in a cavern like this, and I’ll neve...

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Fixing a Person in the Stars

Author

Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

Keywords

Scripture

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, 1 John 4:7-8, Mark 12:31, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, John 13:34

Mike Mason recounts how his friend Daniel Adair once said: Whenever I meet someone new, I take that person and fix him or her in my heart. To do this, I literally see that person as a star, and I ...

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We are a people that prefer the

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

John 1:1-5, Colossians 60:1, Psalm 27:1, 1 John 1:7, Ephesians 5:8

We are a people that prefer the darkness. The darkness hides that which we wish others dare not see and that which we loathe about ourselves, our twisted thoughts, perverted practices, and foolish fol...

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Spirit of Truth, as we turn to your

Author

John E. Skoglund and Nancy E. Hall

Keywords

Scripture

John 8:12-20, John 14:9-14, Psalm 119:105-112

Spirit of Truth, as we turn to your Word, let the light of your countenance be upon us, that we may come to know more fully the one who is the way, the truth, and the life, through Christ Jesus, our...

john on Light and Darkness

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