December 24, 2022

For you this week:

• Reflection for Saturday: Zechariah’s Canticle as a Victory Prayer
• Inside the Ministry: Merry Christmas from the staff

This week’s Trivia Challenge: What does the word “Christmas” mean and when was it first used? (Check your answer at the end of this newsletter.)

Saturday December 24, 2022

2 Sam 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16
Ps 89:2-5,27,29
Luke 1:67-79
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122422.cfm
Podcast:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2022-12-24-usccb-daily-mass-readings-0

Saints Calendar:
gnm.org/saints-find/saints-calendar

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. (From Saturday’s Gospel reading)

Reflection for Saturday:
Zechariah’s Canticle as a Victory Prayer

The following prayer uses Zechariah’s Canticle from this Saturday’s Gospel reading, adapting it to bring victory to your life, your family or difficult situations. Visit it on our website to download a printable copy.

It can be used in private prayer or with family members or your prayer group.

Each verse includes time for a response (R) where you fill in the blanks.

Let us pray:

Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel because he has visited and ransomed his people.
(R) He has visited me [us] in _________ [name a recent joyful or difficult situation] and I am [we are] grateful that he has given us freedom and victory.

He has raised a horn of saving strength for us in the house of David his servant.
(R) He has revealed his power to us, and our household [parish] will serve him; I [we] dedicate this family to the Christ child and ask him to bless us with unity and ________.

As he promised through the mouths of his holy ones, the prophets of ancient times: Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all our foes.
(R) He has shown his loving power in my [our] difficulties, and I [we] thank him, with grateful hearts, especially for _______.

He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered the holy covenant he made, the oath he swore to Abraham our father he would grant us: that, rid of fear and delivered from the enemy, we should serve him devoutly, and through all our days, be holy in his sight.
(R) He has shown his love for the world by becoming one of us, born on that first Christmas in the humility of a child to bring us the Good News of holy living, and to die for us, delivering us from the power of our sins, and delivering us from _______.

Rid of fear and delivered from the enemy, we can serve him devoutly, and be holy in his sight.
(R) In him, we having nothing to fear; in him, we will live forever in heaven, in peace, in joy, and in love; and I [we] choose to serve him here on earth, in imitation of the humble Christ child, especially in the service/ministry of _______.

And you, O child, shall be called prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the Lord to prepare straight paths for him, giving his people a knowledge of salvation in freedom from their sins.
(R) O Lord, make me your prophet, too. I dedicate my life to you — my days and my hours, to prepare the way before you in the hearts of those I serve in my home, in my parish, in my community, and in the world around me.

All this is the work of the kindness of our God; he, the Dayspring, shall visit us in his mercy to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(R: take a minute of silence to offer to God those you know who are in darkness, who are facing death, and who are living in turmoil, division, or war.)

All this is the work of the kindness of our God; he, the Dayspring, shall visit us in his mercy to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(R) Yes Lord! Let it be as you say! Amen!

gnm.org/prayers/zechariahs-canticle

Inside the Ministry:
Merry Christmas from the staff

Lily is our very talented, enthusiastic Social Media Manager. She and her husband, Felipe, say to you: We hope you can share this Christmas with your family and friends.  May our heart be where the Child Jesus can be born!
	Graciela is our incredible Assistant Director and our Spanish Ministry Manager. She and her husband, Fernando (who helps with our Spanish-language videos), say to you: Merry Christmas! May the Child Jesus find a place in our hearts to show us Our Father and fill us with his Spirit. May we have a Christmas filled with joy and peace!
All donors know Kathy because she sends each one a beautiful, personal greeting and prayer along with my thank-you letter. She and her husband, Jay, say to you: God visited us in the person of Jesus, so that he could be present with us in all ways, a witness of his great love for us. This Christmas season, as we ready ourselves for the coming of Jesus, let’s leave some time to be present to Jesus, and to all those whom we love. Merry Christmas! May you experience the peace and love of Jesus.
	Ralph and I founded Good News Ministries in 1995 because we care passionately about sharing Jesus with everyone who’s open to receiving more love, more hope, and more faith. We say to you: We pray that your Christmas is filled with joy even in the midst of sorrows — because Jesus is thrilled to call you his friend and he is with you always. We hope that in the new year we can help you discover the truth of this more and more!

Answer to this week’s Trivia Challenge:
What does the word “Christmas” mean and when was it first used? This word for the celebration of the birth of Christ our Savior comes from the Old English phrase Cristes Maesse, which means Mass of Christ. The first recorded use of it was in 1038.

God bless you!

Every morning, I lift up in prayer everyone who helps Good News Ministries in any way (donors, volunteers, prayer supporters, etc.) and all the prayer requests posted on our site. What can I cover in prayer for you? Post your prayer request.

How else can the team and I serve you today? Visit our homepage.

Let’s connect in GNM’s own SmartCatholics community, called Good News Faith Builders. I’m available to interact with you there.

Thank you for reading this newsletter.

Your servant in Christ,
Terry Modica, Executive Director
Good News Ministries
gnm.org

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