Prayers for Christmas Eve Weekend: Peace

 Advent 4 falls on Dec. 24, so today we have the Advent prayers, plus prayers for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Use this offering however you feel led. May you have a holy and joy-filled Christmas.

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)

 Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)

Blessed Jesus, born of our sister Mary, the first and most perfect disciple who fully accepted the will of God and acted upon it: Give us the faith to accept your will for us and the strength to carry it out, to the honor and glory of your name. Amen (Women’s Uncommon Prayers)

 Blessed are we, the fearful, though we long to be people of peace.

We can’t lie: we are afraid.
Afraid there won’t be enough—enough resources, enough time, enough memories.

Blessed are we who ask you for wisdom. Show us what to turn from, what to set aside.

Come, Lord, that we might see you, move with you, keep pace with you.

Blessed are we who ask that this Advent we might dwell together quietly in our homes.

Come, Lord, that we might be for others the peace they cannot find.

Blessed are we who look to you and say, God, truly, we are troubled and afraid. Come govern our hearts and calm our fears.

Oh Prince of Peace, still our restless selves, calm our anxious hearts, quiet our busy minds. (The Lives we Actually Have/Kate Bowler)

 Shepherd of Israel, may Jesus, who is Emmanuel and son of Mary, be more than just a dream in our hearts. With the apostles, prophets, and saints, save us, restore us, and lead us in the way of grace and peace, that we may bear your promise into the world. Amen (Daily Prayer for All Seasons)

Christmas Eve

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)

 Jesus, this is the great inversion I would not have known had you not appeared and made yourself small.

Jesus, I would have been satisfied with the God who moves mountains and whose breath imparts life but who never cried in his mother’s arms.

The world whispers to me about what must be done. About empires and war. About efficiency and strength, but there you are.
A refusal.

Your fragility, a witness.
Your dependence, an invitation.
Your cry, a reminder.
Our finitude is not an embarrassment, because neither was yours.

Blessed are we when we see love, at long last, in every small and tender thing, stealing into our world to change us all. (The Lives we Actually Have/Kate Bowler)

 Holy One, come this night.

Open my heart to the brightness of your love.
Release my fears and revive my hope,
that I may rest well and rise to share your love. (Daily Prayer for All Seasons)

 

Christmas Day

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)

 Most gracious God, for our salvation you were born and manifested in a human body: Help us see your likeness in women and men of all nations, races, and cultures, that we may rejoice in our diversity and live together as one; in the name of your Child, our Savior Jesus Christ, given to us this holy day. Amen (Women’s Uncommon Prayers)

 God, this is a kind of magic the way this day shines so strangely, how it sparkles beyond our understanding.

(Yes, it was a disaster the way the food turned out this year and how what’s-her-face said—I told her not to—what shouldn’t be repeated. Again, this year.)

But, somehow, this day never fails to awaken a longing to love well—or at least better—all those here with us, and those far away, and to remember with gratitude those now gone, gone, gone and missed.

What is this mystery?

Our God, who set the world spinning, should come down for this one reason:
to love us into newness.
Not for gain, nor our capitalist fantasies, but for the hope so freely, lavishly given that we might learn to see, feel, and live Christ’s love.
Thank you,
Christ the Giver and the Gift.

Amen (The Lives we Actually Have/Kate Bowler)

 Light of life, you came in flesh, born into human pain and joy, and gave us power to be your children: Grant us faith, O Christ, to see your presence among us, so that all creation may sing new songs of gladness and walk in the way of peace. Amen. (Daily Prayer for All Seasons)