A PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS EVE (OT)

Isaiah 9:2-7 (NIV)

2 The people walking in darkness

    have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned.

3 You have enlarged the nation

    and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you

    as people rejoice at the harvest,

as warriors rejoice

    when dividing the plunder.

4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

    you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them,

    the bar across their shoulders,

    the rod of their oppressor.

5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle

    and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning,

    will be fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace

    there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

    and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

    with justice and righteousness

    from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

    will accomplish this.

We reach out in the darkness

wondering if anyone is there

The days are

chilly

cold

mournful

meandering

The nights seem

long

lonely

bitter

bereft

We reach out in the darkness

wondering if anyone is there

Our strength replaced by weakness

Our vision altered by blindness

Our candles snuffed out

Our walk reduced to a shuffle

We reach out in the darkness

wondering if anyone is there

We look to the night sky for a sign

We grasp for a hand to hold

We listen for a voice to break the silence

We long for a spirit to renew us

We reach out in the darkness

wondering if anyone is there

Someone is

You, Christ Jesus

You are coming

You are here

You shatter the darkness with your presence

You rejuvenate our lives with grace and love

You counsel us in our losses and fill us with hope

You establish justice and overcome oppression

You inaugurate peace and bring an end to war

You reign with compassion and forgiveness

Hallelujah

Christ is coming

Hallelujah

Christ has come

Hallelujah

Christ will always be coming

Hallelujah

Amen