Prayers of the People: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day '23 Yr B

For Sunday, December 24 and Monday December 25, 2023, Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

   The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shined. [Isaiah 9:2]

   Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the whole earth. Sing to the Lord and bless his name; proclaim the good new of his salvation from day to day. [Psalm 96:1-2]

    The grace of God appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions... [Titus 2:11-12a]

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"  [Luke 2:13-14]

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
[from The Nicene Creed, US Book of Common Prayer, p. 358] 

       The time is now, because of and in spite of these days of darkness, worry, fear, and anguish, to remember how to feel the Excitement, the Joy, the Wonder, the Thrill of Christmas AGAIN! Jesus Christ is born today! It’s time ~ re-awaken the Spirit within, remember the Reason it begins, open to a new spiritual start, a fresh opportunity. It's time ~ NOW, to push into the unknown, painfully, frighteningly, but with great anticipation to experience our own birth, again, into a New Creation in Christ.

       We each carry the fertile seed, the Divine Spark within us ~ Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jew, Atheist, Agnostic, Oblivious, Naughty, or Nice. We each choose how the Spark drives us ~ we tend, nurture, anticipate or ignore, abuse, or perhaps deny that innermost part of ourselves. But now, what was is gone. As with infants, we move into new light, new sound, uncertainty, anxiety, and every day is a new beginning. Even if we have tried before, distraction, disinterest, life circumstances may have stopped our momentum. Yet we, too, are called as part of the Good Tidings of Great Joy that is Christ the Lord!

       We are the Reason he was born to us. Let the Joy and Peace of now begin with me and let me, with you, carry Christ forward into this Day, into our everyday lives every day, into all the Earth we inhabit.  The Great Light in the Darkness has come!

                                                               It's time! Hallelujah!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, You come at last, filled with grace and truth. Let our joy be unbounded for the arrival of our Glorious Child, One in Being with God and the Holy Spirit, who redeems and claims us for the work of Heaven on Earth.

                                   Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!                                   

RESPONSE:         Grant Peace on Earth to Us All               

~ O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, grant us energy and courage to give continuous voice to Your truth in all places of political, elected, and authoritarian power throughout this World, this Nation, and this Community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                   Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!

                                                   Grant Peace on Earth to Us All  

~ O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, we ask You who were homeless as you entered this world, to enfold all who are homeless, hungry, sick, and downhearted, that they may feel Your loving embrace on this Day of Days and always. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                   Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!

                                                   Grant Peace on Earth to Us All      

~ O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, lift up our hearts in the joy and the hope of the Love that never ends, as we remember and celebrate all who have left the woes of this earthly plain to live forever, deep in the heart of God. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                   Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!

                                                   Grant Peace on Earth to Us All      

~ O Holy Jesus, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions

                                                   Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!

                                                   Grant Peace on Earth to Us All            

~ O Holy Jesus, God’s True Light, continue to excite the hearts of all who lead us in Your Church, with imagination and inspiration. Guide all our hearts to rebirth in a Spirit-filled life in Your service. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                   Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!

                                                   Grant Peace on Earth to Us All       

The Celebrant adds: Most High Lord Jesus, the Word, the Imprint, the Incarnate Grace of God sent to live among us, we sing to You a new song of rejoicing. Let each breath we take draw You into ourselves, that we may give out Your glory and praise in all that we are, and all that we do. Guide us, guard us, goad us to live into Your divine will. We ask through You, Prince of Peace; and through the Holy Spirit, our Compass; who together with our Mighty Creator from the beginning, live and reign as one God, now and forever. Amen. 

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