Good morning.
Today is Saturday,
December 26,
The second day of Christmas,
2020.
O Lord,
Let my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to God,
The three-in-one creator,
Redeemer,
And sustainer.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now,
And will be forever.
Amen.
O come,
Let us sing together.
Come,
Let us worship and adore Christ the Lord.
Remind yourself that you're in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you today.
Let yourself dwell on a word or a phrase that catches your attention,
And let your heart simply respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace.
Luke 2 verses 8 through 15.
There were shepherds in the area living in the fields and keeping night watch by turns over their flock.
The angel of God appeared to them and the glory of God shone around them.
They were very much afraid.
The angel said to them,
You have nothing to fear.
I come to proclaim good news to you,
News of a great joy to be shared by the whole people.
Today,
In David's city,
A savior,
The Messiah has been born to you.
Let this be a sign to you.
You will find an infant wrapped in a simple cloth lying in a manger.
Suddenly,
There was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
Praising God and saying,
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
And on earth peace to those who have been on earth,
Peace to those on whom God's favor rests.
When the angels had returned to heaven,
The shepherds said to one another,
Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see this event that God has made known to us.
Please repeat these words.
Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace.
I invite you to hold someone's name before God.
As I read the words written by Ann Weems,
The one star night.
Into an extremely dark and bitterly cold December came a one star night.
Those who had compassion found a room and were filled with wonder at the brightness of the star above them.
Those who saw fell to their knees in fear,
But listened to the angel's song and ran to see.
Those who heard the baby's cry believed and fell to their knees,
This time in worship.
Those who followed the star already believed and knew the time was now.
They persisted in their journey through the dark and cold,
Bringing gifts to this one,
Born to us all in a one star night.
We pray together in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray.
Our Father which art in heaven,
Eternal God,
Earth maker,
Painter,
Life giver,
Source of all that is and all that shall be,
Not only Father but Mother of us all.
May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe.
May the way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world.
May your heavenly will be done by all created beings.
May your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain us.
May the commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today,
Feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another,
Forgive us.
In times of temptation and test,
Strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure,
Spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil,
Free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
Now and forever.
Amen.
And now my friends,
Let us go from this place proclaiming that we have seen the glory of God,
Believing that there is a light that shines in the darkest shadows,
A brightness that will never be overcome.
And may the love of the Creator,
The joy of the Spirit,
And the peace of the Christ Child be with you this Christmas and forevermore.
Amen.
Go in peace.
