OPENING PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

December 24, 2023

Pastor Paul Wrightman

God of the prophets, give us courage to speak truth ,

and to tell of your love.

God of the angels, give us voice to sing your presence into the world.

Give the world a freedom song, and help us to speak peace

throughout the earth.

God of Mary and Elizabeth, give us grace to be pregnant with hope

and to bring forth new life for a barren world.

God of Zechariah and Joseph, give us dreams and visions,

and the courage to follow them.

God of the shepherds, give us humility, and to all who sit in darkness,

alone and afraid, a light from heaven proclaiming peace.

God of the magi, give us the will to leave home

to find you among the poor.

God of the Holy Innocents, give us power to stand against violence

and to protect the powerless.

God our Sovereign, you are always coming into the world.

Come to us now, soon, and forever, and let us receive you

as the Child of holiness and the Wind of change,

through whom, this night, we pray.

Amen.