Prayers for Worship
Christmas
by Ron Gordon

Luke 2: (1-7), 8-20

Collect:
 

Glory in the heights to the Holy One of Israel for causing light to shine in our hearts through the birth of Jesus our Saviour. Glory in the common fields of human life and toil, amongst shepherds and sleepy ones, for the one who is Son of God, and Son of Man is born. Glory to God in the highest!  Amen.

Prayer:
 

Lord God, by the gracious gift of Jesus you call forth our faith. You announce his birth by glorious light and a choir of angels, and poor shepherds are dazzled by your proclamation. In Jesus, you the Lord of all, enter our earthly existence; you the owner of all, cannot find a dwelling place; you offer peace and reconciliation through the one born in Bethlehem.  Glory to God in the highest!

Loving Father, at the birth of your Son you called Mary to trust and Joseph to believe. You asked them to have faith in the incredible and to accept the unacceptable. They took your Word and your Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. By his words and deeds, his life and death and resurrection, we are won over to the realm of your love, where human life can become new again full of peace, joy and hope.   Glory to God in the highest!

Lord Jesus, your coming amongst us is so normal, so human, born of a woman, one of us.  Yet you are so full of mystery and wonder, for you save your people and open a way into life also full of mystery and wonder.    Glory to God in the highest!

Spirit of God, help us, we pray to be true receivers of the miracle of Christmas, freely offered to all, always. Help us move beyond the restriction of our sight and our conventions, and the limits of our thoughts to revel in the limitless life in your love.

Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

© 2009 Ron Gordon (reproduced with permission)

o holy night
by Jenn Gordon
 
Luke 2: (1-7, 8-20)

you left the stable door

slightly ajar and I stumbled in

quietly jolly, decked with holly

wanting a place to lie down in the straw

wanting a face to put to your name,

you asked why I came

and I muttered; I simply don’t know

any more

please step aside so that the light

falls full on my face

I need you to let me get close to the manger

please let me hide from an endless night

in this holy space

I want to come home; no perpetual stranger

let silence descend,  while mysteries rend

the cloth that has shrouded my life for so long

speak not a sound as heaven abounds

and lathers the earth in her fragrance of birth

you left the chapel door slightly ajar

and I stumbled in

please step aside

(Comments to Jenn at jennieg@labyrinth.net.au.)