A Litany for the Christmas Season

I first posted this a few years ago as morning prayers for the Christmas season and have used it ever since during the Christmas season. I always love to reread its words as i celebrate the birth of Christ. Hope you will too.

nativity – Lu Lan China

God of joy and celebration

God of love and mercy

God of peace and righteousness

We sing aloud and dance with the angels.

The ruler of all worlds, the shepherd of creation

Jesus Christ has entered our world

Our Saviour Christ has come into the world,

Not in power, not in might, but in the tenderness of love,

He comes as the promise of life hidden in a mother’s womb.

In this season of God with us we celebrate with the angels

We are graced by the wonder of God’s presence

We are filled with the tenderness of Christ’s love,

(Pause to light Advent and Christ candles)

Love and faithfulness meet together,

Righteousness and peace kiss each other,

Faithfulness springs forth from the earth

Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven

God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .

In this season of God with us we rejoice for God’s salvation has come

The redeemer of all creation has come to earth

And we catch glimpses of God’s Messiah healed world

Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven

God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .

This is the time we believe once more that perfect love casts out fear

That generosity transforms scarcity into abundance

That righteousness overcomes oppression with justice

Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven

God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .

We are graced by Christ’s presence and filled with his love

May we become bearers of God’s light,

And go out to transform our troubled world.

Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven

God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .

Scriptures of the day from the daily lectionary

The whole earth shouts with joy to God

The world declares God’s praise.

Praise to the compassionate and gracious One,

Who sent the son to dwell among us.

Praise to the incarnate One, Jesus Christ our Redeemer

Who fulfills God’s covenant of love and compassion to all humankind

Praise to the indwelling one, the Holy Spirit the giver of life

Who proclaims God’s mercy and justice throughout the earth

Praise to the three in One

Praise to the One in Three

Praise to God on high

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.  Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Jesus you come

In the voice of the poor

In the hurting of the sick

In the anguish of the oppressed

Open our eyes that we may see you

Jesus you come

In the weakness of the vulnerable

In the questions of the doubting

In the fears of the dying

Open our ears that we might hear you

Jesus you come

In the celebration of the saints

In the generosity of the faithful

In the compassion of the caring

Open our hearts that we might embrace you

Almighty God whose great love and compassion came into our world in the person of your incarnate son, Jesus Christ, plant in every heart your concern and care for all humankind.  May the light of Christ ignite our hearts and shine out brightly from our lives, proclaiming your salvation to all the earth.

May the light of God shine on us,

May the love of Christ shine in us,

May the life of the Spirit shine through us.

This day and evermore

Amen