Christmas Eve/Day
by David von Schlichten
Prayers for Worship – Christmas Eve/Day 2007, Year A
Note: Sentences, clauses and phrases in quotes come from Christmas carols as printed in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Augsburg Fortress, 2006).
Leader: Alleluia! The Word has become flesh and has scattered the darkness.
People: The Supreme Being of All has become a baby to rescue us from Satan and death.
Leader: The world is full of violence and confusion,
People: but God has become human, so violence and confusion will yield to compassion and brilliant love.
Leader: Even though evil may rob us of family, home, gifts, food and even our health,
People: Christ still has been born, has died, and has risen, so we have forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and the Trinity's saving presence forever. Alleluia!
Leader: “Good Christian friends, rejoice!
People: “Christ is born today!”
Almighty LORD, born of a human, your presence among us is astonishing in its profound, healing beauty. With the angels we glorify you for calling us away from our routines to kneel before you, confident that “the hopes and fears of all the years are met” in you. Amen.
Newborn Messiah, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
At Christmas, we are guilty of focusing on the wrong things. We say Christmas is for children, when really it is for all creation. We fixate on gifts, food, alcohol and family, ignoring your birth. We allow the season's stress to tempt us away from joyful gratitude and wonder. We think Christmas is only one day and are quick to put the season in a can on the curb as soon as the twenty-fifth has ended.
For your sake, forgive us. Teach us to linger over the jaw-dropping Good News that Yahweh has become an infant. Amen.
Leader: “Joy to the world![ . . . ] No more let sin and sorrow grow
People: “nor thorns infest the ground.
Leader: “[Christ] comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found.
People: “Joy to the world [ . . . ] for the glories of [Christ's] righteousness and wonders of his love.”
Leader: Christ, who was born in the little town of Bethlehem, make us alive again to the proclamation of you, the Word.
People: “[O] h come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel!”
“Infant holy, Infant lowly,” we are in quiet awe of your birth. You came to this world to reunite us with the Trinity.
Guide the Church throughout these twelve days, that, through word and action, we may never tire in telling that you are born. Immanuel, (congregational response: Bless us with your “tender care.”)
Ever Blooming Rose, we are grateful for our nation and for humanity's diversity. Cultivate the United States, including President George W. Bush, to sow peace throughout the world. Bless the troops and all who cannot be home for Christmas. “Bring us at length, we pray, to the bright courts of heaven and into endless day.” Immanuel . . .
Child and Head of the Holy Family, we thank you for good family and good friends and all those you have sent to make our lives better. Keep people safe as they travel over the holydays. Make us instruments of your comforting compassion for the poor, lonely, uprooted, and grieving throughout this season and all through the new year. Immanuel . . .
We give praise for our African American siblings. Bless them throughout Kwanzaa, that they may find pleasure and pride anew in their African heritage. Guide us all to the day when prejudice is no more. Immanuel . . .
You may add other praises or petitions here.
These prayers we offer to you as glorifying gifts, thankful for you and putting our trust in you, the greatest gift of every time and place. Amen.
Leader: “Mary was the mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little child.”
People: To that little child we bring our incense, gold and myrrh.
Leader: “O come, let us adore him,
People: “Christ the Lord!”
Leader: “Christ, the Savior is born.”
People: “Christ, the Savior is born.”
Leader: Jesus, you were “Lord [ . . . ] at your birth.”
People: Jesus, you were “Lord [ . . . ] at your birth.”
Leader: In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, let us embrace each of Christmas's twelve days.
People: Let us go and tell about the one who sleeps “in heavenly peace.”
(from www.goodpreacher.com/blog/)