On Friday December 18, 2015, we had a prayer evening at Jesus the King Church for the unity of the family with supplications to the Holy Family as Pope Francis urged Christians to pray. We prayed for unity of one's own family; unity of the parish family; the family of the Melkite Catholic Church in communion with our pastor Bishop Ibrahim; unity of the family of Christian Churches; and unity of the human family for peace in the world (especially to protect families and individuals from atrocities and terrorism.) Organized by Fr. Youhanna Hanna with scripture readings to strengthen the family, and in participation of readings by Fr. Ibrahim El-Haddad and Fr. Michel Chalhoub together with responses by the attendees and recorded hymns of Christmas, the prayers were followed by individual confessions heard by the 3 priests. I had written about the importance of confession here, but felt the inadequacy of my spiritual state as Fr. Michel encouraged me in the sacrament of penance to pray for God's help to avoid temptations. Confession opens for us the possibility to see our responsibilities as participants in faith, receive the mercy of our Lord and embrace him in humility. The Byzantine hymn here expresses the joy in the Nativity of Christ as Mary his mother comes to the manger that the earth offers to God while angels and shepherds sing to him:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snn_k2EOrcM
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