Worship the Holy Name: Christmas Daybook 8
Watch: The Name, Dan Stevers, or the Spanish version, El Nombre
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace; What name could contain such a glory?
From Anglican Compass - January 1: The Holy Name (New Year's Day) is the day that Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day according to the custom of the Jews (Luke 2). This was when the child was given a name. The name “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew “Joshua” which means “the Lord will save.” The angel that appeared to both Mary and Joseph told them to “call his name Jesus” for he will “save his people from their sins.”
The name of God is an important and holy aspect of the Hebrew faith. God’s name was revealed to Moses as the “I AM” and “Yahweh.” To this day, Jews do not pronounce or write the name of God, to set it apart. Because of the power of God to save in Jesus Christ, we celebrate his name on this day.
Read: Exodus 34:1-9; Psalm 8; Romans 1:1-7; Luke 2:15-21
Pray: Book of Common Prayer (2019), Collect for The Circumcision and Holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ
Almighty God, your blessed Son fulfilled the covenant of circumcision for our sake, and was given the Name that is above every name: Give us grace faithfully to bear his Name, and to worship him with pure hearts according to the New Covenant; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Do: Take a first-day hike.
[from my 2013 post: “12 Ways to Savor the 12 Days of Christmas”]
“Get outside. Take a road trip. Hike a nearby trail. Go skiing, sled-riding, ice-skating. This year we piled together in the van for the hour and a half trip to enjoy San Antonio's river walk. We were rewarded with a crisp, clear Texas night and a round yellow moon.”
p.s. America's State Parks first-day hikes for the tri-state area of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York here.
Texas Parks & Wildlife coordinates guided “First Day Hikes”. You can find 2021 locations here. Anyplace else offer something similar?
