P Beloved in
Christ, may it be our care and delight this Christmas Eve to prepare ourselves
to hear again the message of the angels; in heart and mind to go unto Bethlehem
and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the
story of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience to
the glorious Redemption brought us by this Holy Child; and let us make this
holy house of God glad with our carols of praise:
But first let us pray for the needs of His
whole world; for peace and goodwill over all the earth; for unity and
brotherhood within the Church He came to build, and especially in our nation,
our state and our community. And because this of all things would rejoice His
heart, let us at this time remember in His name the poor and the helpless, the
cold, the hungry and the oppressed; the sick in body and in mind and them that
mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; all who do
not know the Lord Jesus, or who love Him not, or who by sin have grieved His
heart of love.
Lastly let us remember before God all
those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that
multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and
with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we forevermore are one.
P Lord in Your
mercy,
C Hear our prayer.
P These
prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the
words which Christ himself has taught us:
C Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be
Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give
us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those
who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.
Amen.
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