A CHRISTMAS EVE PRAYER

FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEWTOWN CT

Isaiah 9:2-7

2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. 3You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

It is dark tonight, O God

Dark in our hearts

in our homes

in our nation

We are darkened anew

by anger and madness

grief and violence

heartache and numbness

We want to turn away

ignore the news

not wanting to be touched or moved

We sit in darkness

of endless debate

unnamed fear

political divide

We get lost searching for answers

discouraged seeking solutions

fatigued by losing hope

And we wonder

Wonder when the shootings will stop

Wonder when the violence will end

Wonder if we'll ever feel safe

Wonder if we'll ever have peace

Shine on us, O God

Shine from the manger of Bethlehem

into the night in Newtown and Aurora

Shine from the song of the angels

into broken hearts and empty bedrooms

Comfort us, O God

Comfort us as we cry in the night

and rise to the dawn

Comfort us as we bury our children

and surrender their dreams

Come, Lord Jesus

Come and break our cycles of violence

and show us the ways of peace

Come and hush our hatred

and teach us how to love

Come, Lord Jesus

Come and teach us to sing again

with the angels

Come and show us how to wonder anew

with the shepherds

Come and help us to worship joyfully

with the wise men

Come and help us ponder quietly

with the mother by the manger

Come, Lord Jesus

Come today

Come to tomorrow

Come now and always

Amen

A PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS 1(OT)

Psalm 148 (MSG)

1-5 Hallelujah!

Praise God from heaven,

    praise him from the mountaintops;

Praise him, all you his angels,

    praise him, all you his warriors,

Praise him, sun and moon,

    praise him, you morning stars;

Praise him, high heaven,

    praise him, heavenly rain clouds;

Praise, oh let them praise the name of God—

    he spoke the word, and there they were!

6 He set them in place

    from all time to eternity;

He gave his orders,

    and that’s it!

Everywhere we go

we are overwhelmed

We find ourselves awestruck

silenced by beauty and splendor

Creator God

We search for words

to explain what we see and feel

amidst the stars and sun

mountains and prairies

gentle streams and roaring oceans

How can we Praise You, Creator God?

We can start by caring for the corner where we live

Being stewards of this, Good Earth

We can start by not fouling the skies and waters

Not using the great outdoors as a global refuse center

Turning clear skies into smoggy residue

babbling brooks into sludge filled rivers

Rolling hills into cratered moonscapes

We can praise you by living as good renters

of this garden you allow us to live in

How can we Praise You, Creator God?

We can start by Living in your creation

Roaming around

getting lost in it

Stopping

Looking

Feeling it

We shut ourselves away

preferring to burrow in

playing with our toys

Couch potatoes safely hidden

We can praise you

by rolling on the grass

Dancing in the rain

Wandering on the hillside

Sitting on the beach

How can we Praise You, Creator God

We can start by remembering

who the creator is

Too often we confuse our role in the cosmic dance

Believing we are more important

more powerful

more designer than the designed

We need to be humble before Your creation

O God, and thankful

Thankful

Wherever we are

Whatever we see

Smell

Touch

Hear

So let us laugh when it rains

Run in the breeze

Listen in the night

Pray in dawn's first light

We praise you

and thank you

Creator God

Amen

A PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS EVE (NT)

Luke 2:8-20

8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people

We are not used to good news

More like the end of the world news

End times

Mountains tumbling

Planets colliding

Suns going dark

We are not used to good news

Now good news?

Good news

Good news of joy

Good news to all the earth

We could use some good news

Times are tough

Wars and rumor of wars

Everything going to Hell in a hand basket

We could us some good news

Cheer us up

Make us feel better

Give us something to look forward to

Someone to put hope in

11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

We need a Savior, God

A Savior to rescue us

Lift us out of the muck and mire

of our fumbled and mangled lives

Sort through the chaos of famine and strife

of the nations

We need a Savior, God

A Savior that will forgive us

Absolve us of our transgressions

and make us new

Wash away the stains on our souls

and the hurt in our hearts

Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Here we come, Lord

Come to see the baby

Come to see the miracle

Come to see the Word made flesh

Here we come, Lord

Come to worship

Come to bow in reverence

Come to celebrate Your coming

"To dwell among us."

20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Now we must go, Lord

Go and spread the Good News

Go and sing it on the mountain

Go and shout it in the town square

No we must go,Lord

Go and tell our friends the Good News

Go and share it with our neighbors

Go and proclaim it to rich and poor

Hallelujah

Christ has come

Hallelujah

Christ is here

Hallelujah

Christ will come again

Amen

A PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS 1(NT)

Colossians 3:12-21 (NIV)

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Chosen

You have chosen us

Called us to be your people

What kind of people?

You call us to be a compassionate people

Compassionate with

our words

our bounty

our deeds

You call us to be kind people

Kind to all

All who are hurting

All who are weary

All who are hungering

Chosen

You have chosen us

Called us to be your people

What kind of people?

You have called us to be a humble people

Humble before The Lord

Humble before the congregation

Humble in our prayers

You have called us to be a gentle people

Gentle upon the land

Gentle in our homes

Gentle with one another

Chosen

You have chosen us

Called us to be your people

What kind of people?

You have called us to be a patient people

Patient In our hopes and dreams

Patient with each other

Patient with ourselves

You have called us to be a forgiving people

Forgiving of the unjust and unkind

Forgiving of our enemies

Forgiving of our friends

Chosen

You have chosen us

Called us to be your people

Fill us this Christmas Eve with love

Love that you sent to earth in the child born

in a manger

Love that followed obediently even to

death upon the cross

Love that rose from the grave and

conquered death of everyone

Fill us, Christ Jesus, with your love

so we may be your Chosen People

Amen

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

A PRAYER FOR FOURTH ADVENT (NT)

Hebrews 10:5-10 (NIV)

5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,

    but a body you prepared for me;

6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings

    you were not pleased.

7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—

    I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a]

8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

You are not pleased with our offerings

are you, God

We bring our offering envelopes each week

toss a few bills and coins in the plate as it passes us

support the mortgage payment on the building

give to the homeless shelter when we can

We're there every Sunday

show up at the special services

sing and clap and pray

add a few intercessories during the Morning Prayer

We even served on the Board

helped prepare the budget

wrote our annual reports

We did all we were asked

Wasn't that enough

Wasn't that proper

Weren't you pleased?

You are not pleased with our offerings

are you, God

What is it you want

What will be enough

What will please you?

We already know, don't we God

Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”

Like Jesus, the One you sent

The One who healed and prayed... clothed and preached

Lived and died and rose again

Who gave everything he was and everything he did

to follow your call to obedience and ministry

Like the One, Jesus the Christ

You call us to heal and pray... preach and clothe

To give everything we are and everything we do to follow

your call to obedience and ministry

Like Jesus, the One you sent

Live for you

Die in you

Rise to live with you evermore

Amen

A PRAYER FOR FOURTH ADVENT (OT)

(Dedicated to our Choir leader, Jeni)

Micah 5:1-6 (NRSV)

. 2But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. 3Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. 4And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; 5and he shall be the one of peace. If the Assyrians come into our land and tread upon our soil, we will raise against them seven shepherds and eight installed as rulers.

Come, Shepherd Jesus, come

Save us from the wolf at the door

 and the beasts within ourselves

Gather us up in pastures where we can find rest

and beside waters that nourish and refresh

Remind us "to be still, and know that I am here."

Come, Shepherd Jesus, come

Come and renew our strength

For we are weary

drained of energy and focus

Lift our burdens upon your shoulders

Renew our focus by your guidance

Carry us in your arms

Come, Shepherd Jesus, come

Come and bring us peace

For we have been at war with others

and with ourselves

Still the storms that rage within

Heal the wounded between ourselves

and those we love and who love us

Come, Shepherd Jesus, come

Lead us home, O gentle shepherd

guide us through the wilderness

to a place we know and need

Lead us home, O gentle shepherd

where we can sit and play and rest

beside the fireplace and the hearth

Lead us home, O gentle shepherd

so that are hearts can be fed

by love and family

grace and peace

Come, Shepherd Jesus, come

Lead us home

Amen