Christmas Day Prayers

Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Watch or 7:16

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Son given to us;
Child born for us
We listen for your voice:

We hear the unmistakeable cry of a newborn baby,
Tiny,
Fragile,
Vulnerable.

We know this cry will become a cry for justice,
a cry that challenges privilege and the misuse of power,
a cry for people who are marginalised and face discrimination,
a cry that says to ‘Come to me, you are welcome, you belong’.

We know this tiny and fragile voice will challenge,
Will speak truth to power,
Will call people to leave everything and follow,
And speak up with courage in the face of opposition.

Child, we know that your vulnerability will not hold you back,
That you will speak out in the temples and the streets,
That your light will shine in the darkness,
And the darkness will not overcome it.

We stand at your cradle and we adore you.

Savior, Messiah, Lord,

Forgive us:
When we do not cry out for justice,
When we do not challenge,
When we give in to the darkness,
And cannot see your light.

Forgive us:
When we do not hear that newborn cry,
And know that in it the world is changed,
Hope is born,
And love will reign.
Amen.

Christ is born!
This tiny child,
Who comes to us,
Full of truth and grace,
A light to the world.
And so we can say with confidence:
Our sin is forgiven
Thanks be to God.

Kirsty Bennett, offered for worship Christmas Day C