December Daily Prayer Calendar

Daily Prayer Calendar
December 2020
 
December 1 - Start December by creating a family Advent Calendar together while visiting on the phone.  Make it personal for your  family with things like ”Tell mom and dad I love you!”, say prayers at dinner, or even surprise a sibling by doing one of their chores!.

December 2 - Pray for attentiveness to God’s Word.
 
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.”  How can you improve your listening to God’s Word in your heart?        - Revelation 3:20
 
December 3 - Fr. Augustus Tolton: 1st black priest in America.
 
Born in 1854 to slave parents in Missouri his parents taught him how to live the Catholic faith.
Escaping to Quincy, Illinois with his mother and brother Augustus faced discrimination and roadblocks in his education from elementary to seminary. 
After completing seminary in Rome his first Mass was Easter Sunday at St. Peter’s in Rome.
On Feb. 13, 2012 he was declared a “Servant of God”


December 4 - Wear Brown Shoes Day
¨ a change from the ordinary! 
¨ What color are your socks?
¨ Keep on changing and smiling!!
 
 
December 5 - Tomorrow, the second Sunday in Advent we celebrate the hope of a new beginning with the birth of Jesus.
 
“They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.”    — Isaiah 40:31

December 6 -  St. Nicholas Day
Orphaned early St. Nicholas gave away his inheritance and became known for  the protection of children, his concern for sailors and ships and his generosity.  He became the story of Santa Clause.
 
Am I generous with my faith?
 
December 7 - Pearl Harbor
was attacked at  8:00 AM
on  December 7, 1941  
Remember those who died  during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and those whose actions saved lives.  
 
 
“No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  — John 15:13
 
December 8 - Celebrate Mary’s Immaculate Conception   
 
“And coming to her,
he (the Angel Gabriel) said,
“Hail, favored one!
The Lord is with you.”
 — Luke 1:28 
 
Pray the rosary in thanksgiving for Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
 
December 9 - Pray for Peace. Read and reflect on:
 
“I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble, but take courage,
I have conquered the world.”  —John 16:33 

December 10 -Today is a repurpose day.
What in your home can be turned into something new? How can you be turned anew? What is waiting to be discovered?

December 11 - 2 Corinthians 5:2
 
“So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come”. 

December 12 - Our Lady of Guadalupe
 
Bring the faith, courage and joy that Mary
modeled for us into your life.
 
Pray the Rosary with those you love.


 December 13- Gaudete Sunday
The third Sunday in Advent
We rejoice that the wait for Jesus is nearly over. 
 
According to Father Josh, priests wear rose, not pink,  since Jesus didn’t pink from the dead, he rose from the dead.
 

December 14 --Find a recipe for your favorite Christmas treat to share and send it to the grandkids or the great grandkids!

December 15 - Pray  a prayer of thanksgiving to Anne and Joachim for their daughter Mary.

December 16 - National Chocolate Covered Anything Day …..
Go ahead…. Have a great day!
 
December 17 - In times of stress and trouble we can pray for rest in God’s presence. 
 
 
“In peace I will lie down and fall asleep,

for you alone, LORD, make me secure.

— Psalm 4:9
 
December 18 - . In a letter send a family member three wonderful memories you have of them.

December 19 - Pray the Epiphany Parish prayer
     It is at the end of this article.

December 20 - “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
On the fourth Sunday in Advent we rejoice in the coming of the promise of Jesus.

December 21 - Shortest Day of the Year
Look on the Bright Side - no matter how stressed you are,
remember how blessed you are.
Look for something positive - see the light

December 22 - Today and tomorrow are opportunities for exercise. Open your hands and let the love of Christ in! 

December 23 -  “ In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.”   — 1John 4:9

December 23 - Pray the Epiphany Parish prayer

December 24 and 25 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
 
Beloved:
 
When the kindness and generous love
of God our savior appeared,
not because of any righteous deeds
we had done but because of his mercy,
 
He saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life. 
 
— Timothy 3:4-7
 

 December 26—St. Stephen the Martyr’s
faith led him to devote his life to God’s people as a deacon.  Epiphany Parish has three  permanent deacons: Matt Berry, Mike Byrne and Chuck Cooper. 
Additionally, Jim Wolf is in diaconate formation and his class is scheduled to be ordained in the summer of 2023.
 
  Read about the original seven deacons (including Stephen)
In Acts of the Apostles Chapter 6.
 
Father, We thank you for the many gifts you have given the
ordained,  all religious women and men and lay people.
Together we will spread The Word and your love.    — Amen 
 
 December 27 - Know the assurance of God’s love. 
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.”  — John 4:7

December 28 - Wisdom comes with experience, celebrate your    
    wisdom and the life you have lived.

December 29 - “By wisdom a house is built, by understanding it is established; And by knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and pleasing possession. The wise are more powerful than the strong, and the learned, than the mighty,”   — Proverbs 24:3-5

December 30 - Pray the Epiphany Parish prayer.

December 31 -Celebrate on this New Year’s Eve that:
 
“The Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us.”
 
Epiphany Parish Prayer
 
Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering
us together and calling us to be disciples.

You have charged us through your Son, Jesus with the great
mission of evangelizing and witnessing your love to the world.

Send your Holy Spirit to guide us and we discern Your will
for the spiritual renewal of our parish.

Give us strength, courage, and clear vision
as we use our gifts to serve you.

We entrust our parish family to the care of Mary, our Mother,
and ask for her intercession and guidance
as we strive to bear witness to the Gospel
and build an amazing parish.