The Twelve Days of Christmas - Lutheran Theological Seminary at ...

The Twelve Days of Christmas
Praying and Reflecting on the Word of God in Season with
The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia

This devotional is a gift to you as you celebrate the twelve days
of the Christmas season. For each day, members of the community of The
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) have written reflections
on daily readings from scripture. For each day a prayer is also provided for you
to pray. By using this devotional, you join many people from many places who
desire to keep these twelve days of rejoicing through praying and reflecting on
God’s Word.
We invite you to set aside a regular time during each of the twelve days to use
this devotional. You might designate a place in your home as a place for prayer
and meditation. You might mark such a place with a Bible, a candle and art that
focuses your reflection. In addition, you might also use this occasion to sing
hymns or psalms, read additional scripture, pray additional prayers, and sit in
silence or discussion. It may be helpful to have your denominational book of
worship or hymnal in your home for such devotions.
You may wish to keep a pattern similar to the church’s pattern of daily prayer
each day. The daily prayer pattern, called the office, is a simple pattern of:
Opening
Song or Psalm
Word
Prayer
An opening of the office would be attentive to the time of day. At morning,
your common opening might be the sign of the cross and the words “O Lord,
open my lips.” At evening, you might light a candle against the darkness of the
night and give thanks for Christ, the light of the world. At night, you might confess
your sins to God and pray for God’s forgiving mercy.
Psalms have regularly been part of the church’s daily prayer. At morning, you
might sing Psalm 63 or 95, at evening Psalms 141 or 121, and at night Psalms 4
or 33. In addition, the following psalms correspond to the days of Christmas:
First Day of Christmas: Psalm 98 The victory of our God
Second Day of Christmas: Psalm 148 God’s splendor is over earth and heaven
Third Day of Christmas: Psalm 148
Fourth Day of Christmas: Psalm 148
two

Fifth Day of Christmas: Psalm 148
Sixth Day of Christmas: Psalm 148
Seventh Day of Christmas: Psalm 148
Eighth Day of Christmas: Psalm 8 How exalted is your name
Ninth Day of Christmas: Psalm 148
Tenth Day of Christmas: Psalm 110 Prayers for the king
Eleventh Day of Christmas: Psalm 110
Twelfth Day of Christmas: Psalm 110
One of the many Christmas hymns might also be sung during these twelve
days. Christmas carols help expand our understanding of the incarnation: we
can imagine that God became human in a world of diverse people by singing a
diverse song from the peoples of the world.
Readings from scripture are assigned for each day from the new Revised Common
Lectionary Daily Readings (Fortress Press, 2005). These readings resonate with the
Sunday or Festival readings that anchor these days. The reflections on the readings,
prepared by members of the LTSP community, are intended to invite you
into further reflection on the readings. As a further deepening in the Word of
God, you might sing a biblical canticle. Zechariah’s song (Luke 1:68-79) is sung
at morning, Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-55) is sung at evening, and Simeon’s song
(Luke 2:29-32) is sung at night.
The prayer from this devotional might start a series of prayers that include
thanksgiving and intercessions for the church, the world, the nations, all of creation
and all in any need. Prayers may commonly end with the prayer Jesus
taught us to pray. (Our Father...)
Keeping such a daily pattern for prayer joins your prayer to the countless
Christians throughout the world who pray in such a pattern, joining your
prayers to the ceaseless prayer of the Church.
May your Christmas days and nights be filled with the joy and peace of the triune
God. And may the Word of God, which this devotional intends to illuminate,
lead you to faith in the One whose birth among us pulls us into the never
failing mercy of God.
Mark Mummert
three

Sunday, December 25, 2005
First Day of Christmas
Nativity of our Lord
Isaiah 52:7-10 Heralds announce God’s salvation
Hebrews 1:1-12 God has spoken by a son
John 1:1-14 The Word became flesh
LIKE MOST CHILDREN, I ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO CHRISTMAS DAY. However, it
was not for the sharing of gifts, because, as a German immigrant family, we had
exchanged gifts at midnight on Christmas Eve, our presents lovingly set around
a tree that glowed with sixteen real candles. Rather, my excitement was to go to
church on Christmas morning to hear the Christmas gospel preached by my
father, who was our pastor. A stout man with arms and feet too large for his small
statue, he loved to proclaim the Christmas gospel from the first book of John.
On most Christmas mornings my father would roll back the sleeve of his black
preaching gown and, grabbing his own arm, proclaim the incarnation in
German: “Und das Wort wart Fleisch” (“And the Word became flesh”)! He
shared with us the God who sent the Son to dwell with sinners. He proclaimed
the good news of a God who descended deep into our experience, not to condemn
the world, but to redeem it by dwelling with us.
This Christmas gospel always overwhelmed me and still comforts me with the
sweetness of God’s love for humanity. Here indeed was the real gift exchange —
God in Christ receiving my sin and despair and giving to me God’s righteousness
and holiness. Thus I remember with joy that “holy arm” of my father,
which for me always symbolized God’s mighty arm, redeeming us in our
human condition by coming deep down into things. How I have grown to love
those large but beautiful feet that brought to me the gospel of peace in a world
filled with violence and conflict — a peace that gives me a profound sense of
freedom to live and work for the world’s good.
At LTSP, we prepare messengers who, like my father, proclaim the glad tidings
of salvation. Their feet take them into your congregations and contexts to reveal
the God who is with you and for you, even when God seems hidden in the
conflicts and struggles of your life and the world’s pain. We prepare leaders
who help you to see the glory of God in the weakness of the Son, who became
a child so that we might become children of God. We prepare witnesses, like
your pastor, who brings to you the grace of Christ in the Word and the
Sacraments, so that your life may be filled with grace upon grace.
May the Word who became flesh and still dwells among us lighten your
Christmas Day with sweet comfort.
four

Prayer
Almighty God, you gave us your Son to take on our human nature and to illumine the world
with your light. By your grace adopt us as your children and enlighten us with your Spirit,
through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Lord, whom with you and the Holy Spirit we worship
and praise, one God, now and forever. Amen
Philip D. W. Krey
Monday, December 26, 2005
Second Day of Christmas
Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
Jeremiah 26:1-9, 12-15 Jeremiah threatened with death
Acts 6:8-15, 7:51-60 The plot against Stephen
MY LITTLE PLAYMATES AND I PRESSED OUR HANDS OVER OUR EARS, and with our
eyes shut tight we began saying loudly, “La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. . .” As our
excluded playmate tried to talk above the noise, we hunched over, pressed
harder on our ears and protested louder, “LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA,
LA. . .” I don’t remember what prompted us to behave so badly; many years
have passed since then. However, we obviously didn’t want to listen to what
she had to say.
We say children can be so cruel toward one another. Yet, how different are we
from children, the people who refused to listen to Jeremiah the Prophet or
stoned Stephen the Apostle? Surely we wouldn’t want anyone to see us using
the “la, la” childhood antic. Nor would we resort to stoning to death someone
we didn’t want to hear. Nevertheless, in many ways we resist what we don’t
want to hear. Perhaps you close your ears without using your hands: turn your
heart to stone or say one thing and do another. The result is the same.
We are called to be both hearers and doers of the Word. As God’s children, may
we be empowered by the Holy Spirit to not simply hear, but humbly to listen.
Prayer
Jesus, help us to talk less and listen more; not only with our ears, but also with our hearts. Amen
Eloise R. Scott
five

Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Third Day of Christmas
John, Apostle and Evangelist
Exodus 33:18-23 Moses asks to see God’s glory
1 John 1:1-9 The word of life revealed
“SHOW US YOUR GLORY!” WE PRAY. It seems perfectly reasonable to ask for a revelation
of God’s glory in our broken world, especially at Christmas. After all, the
song of the angels that Gabriel proclaims begins, “Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth!” After groping around for so long in darkness,
it seems about time to meet this God of light — to get a glimpse of God’s
glory. And so we cry out, “Show it to us! Show us this glory!”
Would we know such glory if we saw it? Would we recognize the glory of the
Holy One among us today? Or would our eyes be so lost in the heavens looking
for God “high and lifted up” that we’d be lucky to catch God’s back side
passing by?
God’s glory is a funny thing; it never comes as we expect. God’s glory breaking
into the world isn’t like an “Extreme Makeover” that suddenly makes everything
right again, a pomp-and-circumstance display of power and might. God’s glory
looks more like a face. It is the face of an unexpected baby to an unwed mother
that the world had no room for. It is the face of a man rejected by society and
unjustly condemned. It is the face of one whose suffering and shame feel like
our own. It is the face of Jesus Christ. Is it a face we are ready to see?
Today we celebrate light of this face, the light in which John says “there is no
darkness at all.” It comes to us in the quiet glimmer of an altar candle, lifting the
veil of darkness just enough for us to share in his meal once again: to see with
our eyes and to touch with our hands the glory of God — broken like bread,
poured out like wine — for you and me.
Prayer
Jesus, give us eyes of faith to see your glory where the world sees foolishness. Make us children
of the light. Amen
Jon Niketh
six

Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Fourth Day of Christmas
Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Jeremiah 31:15-17 Rachel weeps for her children
Matthew 2:13-18 Death of innocent children
OUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION WOULD NOT BE TRUE — would not be mindful of the
whole of God’s creation — if it remained blind to sorrow. If we see only the joy
of the Incarnation in this time, we may forget to pray for those who suffer.
Not all of us have spent the Nativity in the bosom of family and friends. Nor
have we necessarily spent the Advent season in happy anticipation. Some of us
— many, perhaps — have been weeping like Rachel for lost children, squandered
years, livelihoods ripped away, spoiled lands and the waste that comes from
misplaced power.
For that reason, the Christmas season gives us this day to pray for those who
have no joy. The remembrance of the Holy Innocents, slaughtered by Herod in
order to kill the new king, comes to wake us from the tendency to focus mostly
on those things which are pleasing to look upon.
God exposes to our sight whatever intends destruction. The voices of the fearful
ring out in God’s ears along with the cries of those whom God calls to be witnesses.
This is a day to pray for the wisdom and courage to face what is true about our
world, however it manifests itself on earth, in our nation, city, neighborhood,
and even in our families and relationships to stand in Herod’s awful path.
Just as the angel appeared to Joseph in warning, this day’s notice comes from
God: O my people, oppose what does not feed my creation!
Prayer
Deliver us, O God, from the hands of all who live by the sword. Deliver your people into your
own hands: open, strong, eternally giving us bread for the journey. Amen
seven
Melinda Quivik

Thursday, December 29, 2005
Fifth Day of Christmas
Isaiah 49:5-15 God like a nursing mother
Matthew 12:46-50 Jesus’ true family
TODAY ISAIAH BRINGS US A JOYFUL MESSAGE OF GOD’S DELIVERANCE. Now is the
time of favor! Now is the time of salvation! All of creation exuberantly sings
out, praising the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Maternal imagery is so vivid at this time of year. We imagine Mary nursing her
new baby, gently lulling him to sleep. Yes, she wonders about the meaning of
all that has occurred. Yet, surely, like any new mother, she is fully absorbed in
the wonderful, terrifying, and all-consuming experience of loving and caring for
this infant child, so recently emerged from her womb. But as great as her love is
for Jesus, it cannot be compared to the overwhelming love and compassion that
God has for God’s people.
At times, we are confident of God’s love, but all too often, like the exiled
Israelites, we feel forsaken and fear that God has forgotten us.
Despite God’s promises, we do not trust God. Despite our experience of God’s
presence in our lives, we flee from God. Despite God’s loving compassion and
concern, we do not believe God will take care of us.
Yet somehow, in the face of our fears and lack of faith, we obey God’s call.
Claimed by our brother Christ, we discover our true family, the family of God.
Leaving behind all that is familiar and safe, we are emboldened to proclaim the
good news of God’s salvation to the ends of the earth.
Prayer
Mothering God, you gather all of your children into your tender embrace. Help us to remember
that you never abandon us, that your compassion and mercy for us knows no bounds. Amen
eight
Nancy Beckwith

Friday, December 30, 2005
Sixth Day of Christmas
Proverbs 9:1-12 Your days will be multiplied
2 Peter 3:8-13 A thousand years as one day
362, 363, 364 . . . ARE YOU COUNTING, TOO? Or maybe you are counting from your
first breath. Today I am 15,299 days old — how about you? In God’s eyes, maybe
I am really only fifteen days old? If so, cool!
Such counting is all around us. By the biblical proverb, God has all the counting
under control and the days of our life are calculated in God’s time. It is not
for us to know. Such wisdom is too great for us.
Thankfully, the knowledge of the numbers and the days is not what makes us
wise. What makes us wise is Wisdom herself, standing over a fabulous feast to
which the simple (and by her standards, that’s all of us) are invited. To this lavish
meal in elaborate surroundings — complete with drinkable wine, high-protein
platters, attentive service and tableware beyond belief — we are summoned. What
makes us wise is not even wisely choosing to attend the banquet. What makes us
wise is simply Wisdom’s feast for us given to us even before we can ask for it.
To such a feast, to such festival gladness, we are perpetually invited. The feasting
of these twelve days as a protest against the darkness and cold of our northern
hemisphere is like this feast. But also, the feast of the Word of God is given
us to eat: in our ears by the reading of our housemate, in our eyes by the tracking
of our pupils, in our hearts by the hearing of such mercy. Such a feast is
also drawn for us in a Bath of flowing water, washing us in mercy to be
claimed and named by this same Word of God. And the Christian assembly
itself is such a feast: a smorgasbord of varied people from diverse places drawn
together as on a menu of gastronomic delight.
In the Byzantine rite, the deacon calls out prior to the scripture readings, “To
wisdom let us attend.” Maybe your worshipping assembly cries out at the conclusion
of some biblical readings, “Holy Wisdom, Holy Word. Thanks be to
God.” This acclamation speaks confidence in the wisdom of God to order our
days by the Word of God. This acclamation invites us to not worry with the
counting, and instead to trust in God’s ordering of time such that whatever the
coming year brings, we can rely on God’s feast of Wisdom to be enough.
Prayer
O God, all our times are yours. By your Word, on which you give us to feast, give us faith to
trust your promises in all the days and years to come. We ask this through Jesus Christ our
Redeemer. Amen
Mark Mummert
nine

Saturday, December 31, 2005
Seventh Day of Christmas
1 Kings 3:5-14 God grants a discerning mind
John 8:12-19 I am the light
IF YOU ARE READING THIS REFLECTION IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE EARTH, you
might turn out all of the lights in your part of the world and take note: it’s pretty
dark. Maybe the festal revelry of this night makes you immune to this truth.
And it’s not just the darkness that comes from lack of light that makes it so dark.
It may also be that your life has darkness: wars and rumors of wars, corruption
in our governments, leaders without discernment, sickness or sorrow, families
operating in dysfunction, lack of work or rest. Maybe you’ve succumbed to the
blues that plague many in our culture at this time of year because the holiday
didn’t quite cut it. It’s pretty dark.
To this darkness, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world...” This is light that the
darkness itself cannot comprehend. And in your darkness, you can take comfort
because there is no darkness so dark that Jesus himself is not familiar. Jesus is
with you in that darkness. To this darkness, Jesus says, “I am light...”
Solomon gets it. He asks for a discerning mind, acknowledging that he is not
capable on his own to judge, to rule, to even live among his people without
such a mind. Maybe you, too, pray with Solomon for such a mind this year, to
discern what the will of God is for you. Maybe such a prayer can be at the
heart of your prayers as we welcome another year.
Instead of making a resolution today for the coming year, ask God for at least
two things: a discerning mind and light that testifies to the truth. God, grant
such light and wisdom to you, to our country and leaders and to our world and
its inhabitants.
Prayer
O God, give us wisdom, give us discerning minds, give us light for our darkness, that we might
come to know you and live by your gracious hand, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen
ten
Mark Mummert

Sunday, January 1, 2006
Eighth Day of Christmas
Name of Jesus
Numbers 6:22-27 The Aaronic blessing
Galatians 4:4-7 We are no longer slaves
Luke 2:15-21 The child in named Jesus
AND WHEN THE ANGELS WENT AWAY FROM THEM INTO HEAVEN, the people said to
one another, “Let us go over to Tanzania and South Africa. Let us go and see
this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they
went with haste and found many mothers pondering the mortality of their children
and the people dying from hunger and disease. And the people returned,
and sadly kept all these things, pondering them in their hearts, and wondering:
“Lord, what shall we do? To whom shall we go?”
Let us go to the manger, to see “this thing that has happened, which the Lord
has made known to us.” Let us go to Jesus Christ, born in a manger. Let us go
and behold the Lord our God, who has come to feed the hungry and heal the
sick.
In this New Year, let us go throughout the land spreading the good news that
Christ is born. Christ is born in the feeding of the hungry, in the healing of the
sick, in the comforting of the lonely and visiting those imprisoned, in the welcoming
of all who desire to experience God’s unconditional love. Let us live to
combat hunger and disease.
Prayer
Eternal Father, you gave your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be a sign of our salvation.
Plant in every heart the love of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord, whom with
you and the Holy Spirit we worship and praise, one God, now and forever. Amen
eleven
Andrena Ingram

Monday, January 2, 2006
Ninth Day of Christmas
Johann Konrad Wilhelm Loehe, Renewer of the Church
Proverbs 1:1-7 Grow in wisdom and knowledge
James 3:13-18 The wisdom from above
“WHERE SHALL WISDOM BE FOUND?” Of late, I have seen a few books with that
title. With great expectation, I rejoice that I have finally found a place to look
for some good, reliable advice. And time and again, after reading such books, I
have been left with the same old empty feeling. Maybe the very idea that one
can find wisdom, like one finds other objects of desire or consumption, is misguided
in the first place.
Perhaps thinking that wisdom can be isolated from the process of life itself, or
clearly distinguished from any other activity, is a lame pursuit. Wisdom cannot
merely be found. It probably has to be sucked out, somehow extracted, from the
marrow of human experience.
Then there is the biblical proverb. At first, it sounds like the old dichotomy
between wisdom and knowledge once more. However, on second thought, it
actually looks like the sort of wisdom that can be taught and, more importantly,
could be learned. All it takes is the right place to start. For the biblical writer,
that place is the “fear of God,” or minding God in all that we think and do. Only
someone really foolish would believe otherwise and would dare to despise such
down-to-earth counsel.
Fortunately, we are not condemned to choose between being an informed robot
and a personal idiot. We don’t have to choose between a good mind and a good
heart, or between thinking and doing — or between faith and love, for that matter.
True wisdom thrives on all of it. Or, as James implies, wisdom is synonymous
with a “good life.”
Prayer
O God, there are many things that we do not understand, and even more that we cannot get
right. Give us true wisdom, through love and patience, faith and knowledge, hope and courage,
so that we never lose mind and heart. In Jesus we pray. Amen
twelve
Nelson Rivera

Tuesday, January 3, 2006
Tenth Day of Christmas
Proverbs 1:20-33 Give heed to Wisdom, live without dread
James 4:1-10 Humble yourselves before God
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED SOMETHING CURIOUS in James’ insistence that we “draw
near to God.” Yes, it sounds a lot like works righteousness — first you draw near
and only then will God draw near. We learned it differently from Luther.
But I say there is something curious in this “drawing near” because of the way
in which James develops the metaphor. The “drawing near” parallels lament,
mourning and weeping. Our joy turns into dejection. These are not activities
we willingly chose. They really are not works but the suffering, the anxiety, the
contradictions of life that come upon us unexpectedly. Through the many
events of life, through the lament and the weeping, through the mourning and
dejection, through those many insistences of death in the midst of life, God
draws near to us. God pulls us out of the waters. God exalts us — that is, God
gives us new life.
Godself has come in poverty and dejection to be a sign opposed to the many
inner thoughts and self-definitions we give our selves and our lives. The child
born in the manger is Wisdom’s outstretched hand, God’s own thoughts, words
and knowledge poured out for us. Poured out for us - like wine from a cup and
bread from a hand. This is the sign, the unexpected sign that contradicts our
pretensions, that is destined as the falling and rising of many, our own falling
and rising.
Prayer
God of humility, you come to us in the outstretched hand of a child. Unsettle our hearts that
we be drawn near to you and live in your life. Amen
thirteen
Dirk Lange

Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Eleventh Day of Christmas
Proverbs 3:1-12 Trust in God with all your heart
James 4:11-17 Our plans for our time are in God’s hands
“WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?” (James 4:14)
The writer of James does not mince words in today’s text. Part of me wishes he
did because then we wouldn’t have to take the question so seriously. Yet it is
there and it asks each of us about our own lives.
Our answers vary depending on what day we are asked. Life can be full of celebration,
joy and hope. Life can be full of pain, sorrow and anguish. It can even
be all these at the same time. Perhaps that is why the question was asked — not
so much in expectation that we find our own answer to the question, but in the
midst of trying to figure out the answer, we are brought to another place.
What if the question deals not as much with the “what” but the “who”? The
answer to “what is your life?” rests in the hands of who our life belongs to. In
these twelve days we celebrate the birth of God with us in Jesus. We find small,
tiny hands in a manger that grasp us and hold on tightly. These hands grow
larger. They reach out to touch our sickness, our fears, our longings. They bring
light into our darkened days at Epiphany. They extend to us bread and wine.
They never stop reaching out to us in love, no matter the length of days of our
lives.
Prayer
Babe of Bethlehem, you come to us as one among us. We have so many questions contained in
our hearts. Above all answers, send your peace that our lives are lived out of your love for us. In
the name of Jesus. Amen
Lee Zandstra
fourteen

Thursday, January 5, 2006
Twelfth Day of Christmas
Proverbs 22:1-9 The generous are blessed
Luke 6:27-31 Do to others as you would have them do to you
“BUT I SAY TO YOU THAT LISTEN, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.” These are the words to which
the Christmas season leads us. They describe the life into which the baby Jesus
grows. He is born to live a life shaped by loving his enemies.
It is easy to ignore Jesus’ command to love our enemies. You can still be a nice
person and a respectable churchgoer without loving your enemies. Loving our
enemies sounds like the extra-credit version of the Christian life.
Not the way Jesus sees it. A few verses past the end of today’s reading in Luke
6, Jesus charges us to be compassionate, even to the ungrateful and the wicked,
because that is how God is. Christian life is about learning, bit by bit, to love
what God loves. That includes our enemies.
Here I am tempted to ask, “But what about Hitler?” Before we jump to trying to
love far-away enemies with a hugely heinous reputation, we might try someone
more our size, someone closer to home. Maybe we might love the family
member with whom you have been feuding, or the co-worker who has been
icing you, or the fellow student who has been spreading gossip about you, or
the person in your congregation who seems to oppose your ideas just to be
contrary.
Try starting with prayer. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you love, but also pray
for your enemies. Prayer for our enemies is already one way of loving them.
Repeated day after day, prayer is the perfect fertilizer for growing love. It is hard
to hate someone for whom you pray daily.
Prayer
Bless my enemies, O God: (name them). Help me to love them. Help me to remember that you
love them. Amen
John Hoffmeyer
fifteen

About Our Contributors
Nancy Beckwith is a Master of Divinity student (M.Div., 2009) at LTSP.
The Rev. Dr. John Hoffmeyer is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at LTSP.
Andrena Ingram is a Master of Divinity student (M.Div., 2007) at LTSP.
The Rev. Dr. Philip D. W. Krey is Ministerium of New York Professor of Early Church History
and President at LTSP.
The Rev. Dr. Dirk G. Lange is Assistant Professor of Christian Assembly and Seminary
Chaplain at LTSP.
Mark Mummert is Seminary Musician at LTSP.
Jon Niketh is a Master of Divinity student and Chapel Sacristan at LTSP.
The Rev. Dr. Melinda Quivik is Assistant Professor of Christian Assembly and Seminary
Chaplain at LTSP.
The Rev. Nelson Rivera is Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology and Director of the Latino
Concentration at LTSP.
The Rev. Dr. Eloise R. Scott is Director of Seminary Services for the Evening Program at LTSP.
Lee Zandstra is a Master of Divinity student (M.Div., 2006) at LTSP.
The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
7301 Germantown Avenue • Philadelphia, PA • 19119
215-248-4616 • 800-286-4616 • www.Ltsp.edu
Copyright © 2005 The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
Permission for congregational re-use, contact the Communications office at communications@Ltsp.edu
A reproducible version of this devotional is available from our website.