A simple Liturgy for Christmas - click here to download
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light – a light that will shine on
all who live in the land where death casts its shadow…For a child is born to us, a
son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his
royal titles: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace. (Isaiah 9:2 & 6)
Opening
God of Surprising Generosity and Unexpected Grace,
We have come to witness a miracle;
to prepare our hearts for a new invasion of Your Light;
We have come once again to open our souls and our lives to the divine birth.
In this sacred moment we ask for Your gentle Presence to captivate and challenge us.
For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Praise and Confession
We Express Our Praise and Confession
We celebrate You and praise You,
God of new beginnings and surprising opportunities
Because You never cease to make Yourself available to us.
We appreciate You and thank You,
God of unquenchable life and irrepressible grace
Because You continue to offer us the resources of Your Spirit.
We love You and embrace You,
God of unfailing compassion and constant companionship
Because You walk beside us and transform us into agents of love.
Forgive us, O Lord,
When we seek to keep You to ourselves and shut others from Your influence
Forgive us, O Christ,
When we wallow in our own weakness and take advantage of the weakness of others.
Forgive us, O Spirit,
When we deny Your friendship and withhold Your compassion from others.
Silent Confession
Heal us, restore and empower us, O God, we pray
For the sake of Your kingdom which has broken into our world.
Amen.
Scripture Reading – a set reading from the day is read
Silence – for reflection
The Lord’s Prayer may be said
We thank and praise You, O God
for You are not distant and uninvolved in our lives and our world
But, You have come to us, humbly and gently, challengingly and irresistibly.
And whoever receives You, whoever believes in You
becomes a child of God, born of the Spirit.
We thank You, Lord God,
For breaking into our world, our lives and our experience.
We thank You, O Christ for the stories of love and grace that scripture tells.
We thank You, O Spirit,
For Your Presence and Your challenge for us to become agents of God’s compassion.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen
We Offer our Gifts and Ourselves to God
In this moment of worship
We embrace Your presence again, O God,
And we offer You our love.
In this moment of prayer
We proclaim again Your purpose for the world, O Saviour
And we offer You our resources.
In this moment of giving
We hear Your call again, O Lord
And we offer You ourselves.
Use us – all that we have and all that we are
to touch the world with the Christmas message:
God is love. God is with us. God will never leave us.
So, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
Be with us all now and forever. Amen.