Abba, the world awakens today to celebrate the Gift of Your Son, Jesus, the Savior. Help us to truly worship Him and forgive us the excesses of the day.

How we need a Savior, Father. Human depravity brings misery to millions who are enslaved by addictions, abused, ignored, and denied the respect their humanity deserves. As you set free from our sin, lead us to be those who bring ‘release from captivity’ and ‘joyful mornings’ to others.

Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace, bringing us back to our Father Creator, restoring the image of God in us. I worship You for the peace that I find in knowing You and being loved by You. Let me be a peace-maker in my world, a messenger who invites others to know and love You.

This is our hope, Lord, the heart of this Christmas celebration – that “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  (2 Corinthians 5)

This I pray –
“ O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

 O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.”

In the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.