Last night at Fernwood (the most wonderful home-church out there), I had the honor of praying the Christmas Prayer. As we take time to enjoy Christmas with the ones we love, we also take time to pray for others...
"Silent night. Holy night. Come, thou long expected Jesus, we have room for you.
The family has arrived. It’s a joyful reunion. We’ve hurried this season to prepare for the kids, grandkids, grand-pets that will soon crowd our house. We’ve hurried to prepare the food that goes on the table. We’ve trimmed the tree and set out the decorations and filled the stockings that are hung on the mantle. We’ve hurried to clean the house and wrap all the presents. And now it’s show time. But come, thou long expected Jesus. We have room for you.
It’s in this busy time that we remember the cries; the cries of panic, the cries of hope, the cries of a promise. We pray for the injustices around the world. We pray for those who are sleeping in the cold tonight…who have absolutely nothing. We pray for the children who will go the bed tonight with an empty stomach—and find nothing waiting for them when they wake. We take a moment now to pray that we find our voice; and that we be a voice for those don’t have one. We pray that we be a welcoming community that feeds the hungry and clothes the naked. Come, thou long expected Jesus, we have room for you.
It’s in this busy time that we remember our hurt. Lives have been changed this year. In a time that is joyful for so many, tonight, we are made aware of the absence of ones that we love. We pray for those living far away, those taken by death, the family members from whom we are estranged, or the family we never had. We take a moment now to pray for those who are absent. We pray that they feel your love, oh Lord, and that they feel our love, too. Come, thou long expected Jesus, we have room for you.
It’s in this busy time that we remember to simply be still. Help us to stand in awe of your power and strength. You come to use as a tiny light born in the night. In the midst of darkness, show us the light and give us the power to be the light to others. Show us grace when we mess up. Allow us to show grace to others, and to ourselves. Help us to be a community that sets a table where every one is welcome. We pray that we love our enemies; and to love our strangers; and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Come, thou long expected Jesus, we have room for you.
God, we ask that you meet us here tonight. Meet us here at your manger. Come, thou long expected Jesus, we have room for you. Amen."
Merry Christmas..
