Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
Merry Christmas from CHPP!
December 24, 2014
(John 3:16-17)
|
Christmas Reflections in Washington
|
|||
 |
||||
Christmas Reflections in Washington
While end-of-year debates on government appropriations, military policy, tax provisions, judicial nominations, and other issues continue their rough road to resolution in this lame-duck session of Congress, Christmas is in the air in the nation's capital. Top U.S. leaders took time in recent days to share their thoughts on this important season.
As he oversaw the festivities on the White House lawn for the lighting of the National Christmas Tree, President Obama declared:
[While lighting the tree has entered into the 21st century, the story that we remember this season dates back more than 2,000 years. It's the story of hope - the birth of a singular child into the simplest of circumstances - a child who would grow up to live a life of humility, and kindness, and compassion; who traveled with a message of empathy and understanding; who taught us to care for the poor, and the marginalized, and those who are different from ourselves. And more than two millennia later, the way he lived still compels us to do our best to build a more just and tolerant and decent world.
A couple days earlier, as he officiated the annual lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) reflected:
The scene was much humbler that first Christmas - just a group of shepherds keeping watch on a quiet night. But it is to these simple men that the angel suddenly appears, announcing that 'unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.' The shepherds don't just rejoice at this gift, they go to catch a glimpse of it for themselves. 'Let us now go to Bethlehem,' they say to one another, 'and see this thing which is come to pass.' And once they get there, they share these good tidings with the world. That's what makes Christmas so magical. It's a time to rediscover for ourselves the glory of God's love, to see with fresh eyes the beauty of simple things and traditions, and to rekindle the hope of peace and goodwill to all - just as the lights on the tree shine together to overcome the darkness.
Find the full remarks of the President and the Speaker of the House at these Christmas tree lightings.
Find video of the Capitol and White House ceremonies.
(Source: Aaron Mercer, Vice President of Government Relations, National Religious Broadcasters)
|
Our Christmas Message
|
|||
|
||||
Our Christmas Message:
Celebrating the last day of Hanukkah, and Christmas Eve!
Dear Friends,
Today is a day that has a very special meaning for men and women of both faiths: Christian and Jew.
As our Jewish friends have just lit the last candle on the Menorah, the basic message of this event remains the same as that of Christmas . . .
THE LIGHT IS SHINING IN THE DARKNESS.
And just as the oil never ran out in the time of the first Hanukkah, so the Love of our Savior will never run out, as well.
The Lord God Jehovah is still with us, and will lead us through these increasingly dark days by the Light of His Word, because it is written:
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah from all of us
at Capitol Hill Prayer Partners!
|
One Solitary Life
|
|||
|
||||
Our Annual Christmas Message:
One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher.
He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn't go to college. He never lived in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born.
He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.
He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him.
He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.
Twenty centuries have come and gone, and
today he is the central figure of the human race. I am well within the mark
when I say that:
all the armies that ever marched,
all the navies that ever sailed,
all the armies that ever marched,
all the navies that ever sailed,
all the parliaments that ever sat,
all the kings that ever reigned
--put together--
have not affected the life of man on this earth all the kings that ever reigned
--put together--
as much as that one, solitary life.
|
Let Alll the World PRAISE HIM!
|
|||
|
||||
Handel's Hallelujah Chorus
"For the Lord God omnipotent REIGNETH!"
Let Alll the Nations PRAISE HIM!
In Japan:
(Go here)
In England:
(Go here)
In America:
(Go here)
Psalm 150
Let All Things Praise the LORD!
1 Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!
|
Please note
|
|||
|
||||
Please note
In honor of Christmas week, we will stand down from publishing The Daily Brief for the remainder of this week. We again wish each one of you wonderful prayer partners a blessed time this week with friends and family as, together, we celebrate the Birth of our Savior.
The next edition of The Daily Brief will be published next Monday, December 29, 2014.
We also want to pause and honor those who work each week to research and write the prayers for our Briefs:
Karen in Virginia (Mondays)
Sandra in Texas (Tuesdays)
Charlotte in California (Wednesdays)
Faye in Idaho (Thursdays)
Jeri in Oklahoma (Fridays)
Also, a great chorus of praise goes to:
Joni in Arizona (my co-editor)
Michelle in North Dakota (our "Israel desk")
Jane in Arkansas (new subscribers) and . . . Bill in Virginia (Graphics and lnks)
THANK YOU, TEAM!
|
Visit our Blog!
|
|||
|
||||
Visit our Blog!
CHPP's blog includes archives of past editions of all of our alerts, as well as features on praying for the government, Iraq, and other key issues.
Come visit us by clicking here for more information.
|
Who We Are
|
|||
|
||||
Who We Are
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a ministry dedicated to encouraging prayer for our leaders, and for issues involving our national security. We are a 501 (c) 3, tax-exempt nonprofit ministry, relying solely upon the gifts of our friends to maintain this work.
Permission is granted to distribute this bulletin at will. HOWEVER, WE ASK THAT YOU NOT POST ANY OF OUR PUBLICATIONS ON ANY WEBSITE WITHOUT PERMISSION. Please cite Capitol Hill Prayer Partners as the source for this information. Thank you for praying with us for our leaders and our nation. (I Timothy 2:1-4)
We greatly appreciate your help in supporting this publication. Offerings may be sent to:
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970.
Please make checks payable to: CHPP.
Offerings may also be given now online by going to our website here.
THANK YOU!
|
Happy Hanukkah!
|
|||
|
||||
|
Merry Christmas!
|
|||
|
||||
