Yes, the one big day of gifts and feasting is over for most of us, but in the Christian calendar, Christmas lasts for 12 days, until we celebrate the arrival of the wise ones with Epiphany on January 6.
If you haven't seen it yet, make sure to check out this great brief video created by Imagine No Malaria staff in Iowa, Missouri, and Holston Conferences - consider showing it in worship this Sunday or next! As we keep our hearts and minds focused on the gifts of Christmas in the coming days, I offer this Prayer for Christmastide:
God of blazing galaxies and blades of grass,
Creator of worlds and healer of wounds,
we give you thanks once more for the gifts of Christmas:
For Jesus, the baby who grew up to proclaim your blessing on the poor
and your boundary-breaking plan to redeem all people by love;
for Mary and Joseph, who risked security and social standing
to say yes to your invitation to parent that Holy Child;
for the shepherds, and all who work and watch by night,
who were awake to hear the angels’ chorus
and were willing to go and see what they had been told;
for the Magi, who were wise in the ways of heaven and earth,
paying attention, bearing gifts and returning home by another way.
Open our ears to hear your voice
proclaiming wonders and new worlds being birthed;
open our eyes to see your signs
blazing brightly overhead or quietly resting in mother’s arms;
open our hearts to new ways of loving, new ways of living
that continue the gift of the Incarnation
by letting your Word of Love become flesh in us once more;
open our hands to reach out in generosity and care,
to work for justice and to touch with compassion,
that the world may know you are still Emmanuel,
God-with-us,
living within and among us
in this time and place.
In the name of the babe in the manger,
our Friend and Teacher,
Healer and Savior,
Jesus the Christ,
we pray.
Amen.
Rev. Kerry Greenhill ©2013
May Christ be born anew in your life this year!
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