a pastoral prayer for Christmastide

Holy God,

Be with us this Christmastide. Though we know Christmas lasts more than one day, sometimes it can be easy to move on quickly from the holiday—into the shopping sales, back to work, ticking items off a to-do list, dismissing guests from our homes, finishing the leftovers.

So help us keep Christmas alive, not just by keeping our tree up or our twinkle lights on, but by living Christmas each day. Remind us that in the birth of your beloved Son Jesus, Love was birthed anew into the world. Liberation was brought forth to have hands, feet, eyes, ears, voice and heart. Giving of time, talents, presence and prayer showed to be as important as material offerings. Communion with you became as close as breaking bread and sharing a cup.

So during this season, help us stay awake to Christmas. Enhance our senses so that we would realize your presence everywhere we go.

Help us see you all around us, in the eyes of our family, our friends, our neighbors, and strangers.

Help us hear you in the ringing of bells, the singing of carols, the holiday greetings, the crackle of a fireplace, the conversation with loved ones, the laughter of children.

Help us feel you in the warmth of a hand held, the invitation of arms open wide, the comfort of a familiar spot on the couch, the closeness of a beloved pet, the smile that lights our face when we see others smiling.

Help us know the truth of your incarnation as we seek to love our own bodies; as we affirm our transgender sisters and brothers and siblings; as we call for a cessation of war against Palestinians; as we care for our elders with respect; as we advocate for housing for our neighbors, made in your image, who live outside. You are Emmanuel, God-with-us, and that means with us for the long haul—the complex and worth-it work of pursuing peace through justice for your children of all races, all genders, all nationalities, all ages, all sexualities, all economic backgrounds. Move us, Holy God, to work with you however we can to bring peace to our common home.

God, we thank you and praise you for the gift of being together and the wonder that we know in your Creation. Gather us again as we live the spirit of Christmas each day, and always.

Amen.