O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death
Ancient prayer of the church, adapted in the Advent Hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
Dear Friends,
This past Saturday, my church conducted our annual “Advent Quiet Day.” There were about 25 of us who got together to listen to teaching about Advent and Christmas hymns, and to spend some time away from the maniacal pace of the season. We learned that the popular hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is based on ancient liturgies of the Church, with each verse focusing on a different name of Christ.
There are seven liturgies, or “antiphons,” one for each of the seven days before Christmas Eve (December 17-23). The antiphon quoted above (originally in Latin), became this verse of the hymn:
This past Saturday, my church conducted our annual “Advent Quiet Day.” There were about 25 of us who got together to listen to teaching about Advent and Christmas hymns, and to spend some time away from the maniacal pace of the season. We learned that the popular hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is based on ancient liturgies of the Church, with each verse focusing on a different name of Christ.
There are seven liturgies, or “antiphons,” one for each of the seven days before Christmas Eve (December 17-23). The antiphon quoted above (originally in Latin), became this verse of the hymn:
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
As you prepare to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas, please remember the prisoners in your prayers.
PRO Mentoring Initiative
We received our first “mentee” application last week for this new program, which seeks to offer Christian mentors for recently-released inmates from California prisons. This application came from a presentation I made at a PACT (Parole and Community Team) meeting. There are four PACT meetings each month, with anywhere from seven to twenty newly paroled inmates attending. We are also starting a program in one of the county jails, the East Mesa Detention Facility. This program will start mentoring prisoners before they are released. We expect to begin the program right after the new year.
Brig Re-Entry Mentoring Program
The re-entry mentoring program at the brig has been approved, and the 10 Christian mentors I’ve recruited will begin meeting with their “mentees” this week and next week. Please pray that the right men will be matched up for these relationships. To qualify for mentoring, prisoners must have at least six months remaining at the brig, and no longer than one year. Mentors will meet one-on-one weekly with the prisoners.
Finances
For those of you planning to make year-end donations, please remember that your check must be received by RJPM by December 31, 2012 in order to receive a tax-deductible receipt for this year.
May you pause in wonder and joy this Christmas, knowing that the Lord of the Universe became a baby. That baby became a man and was executed on a Roman cross in order to bring salvation to all who believe.
Peace in Christ,
Ben Conarroe
PRO Mentoring Initiative
We received our first “mentee” application last week for this new program, which seeks to offer Christian mentors for recently-released inmates from California prisons. This application came from a presentation I made at a PACT (Parole and Community Team) meeting. There are four PACT meetings each month, with anywhere from seven to twenty newly paroled inmates attending. We are also starting a program in one of the county jails, the East Mesa Detention Facility. This program will start mentoring prisoners before they are released. We expect to begin the program right after the new year.
Brig Re-Entry Mentoring Program
The re-entry mentoring program at the brig has been approved, and the 10 Christian mentors I’ve recruited will begin meeting with their “mentees” this week and next week. Please pray that the right men will be matched up for these relationships. To qualify for mentoring, prisoners must have at least six months remaining at the brig, and no longer than one year. Mentors will meet one-on-one weekly with the prisoners.
Finances
For those of you planning to make year-end donations, please remember that your check must be received by RJPM by December 31, 2012 in order to receive a tax-deductible receipt for this year.
May you pause in wonder and joy this Christmas, knowing that the Lord of the Universe became a baby. That baby became a man and was executed on a Roman cross in order to bring salvation to all who believe.
Peace in Christ,
Ben Conarroe
