Preparing for Christmas

Eternal Father, who waited for us, your people, to prepare ourselves for the coming of your Son, and in the fullness of time did send Him in human flesh, that he might have a feeling of our weakness, hurts, desires, and dreams, come now and pour out your spirit on us, your people, that we may know in a new and living way the presence of Christ, that he may be born in us to make us alive and adequate to the demands of our days.

We need this presence for we confess that we have been unworthy witnesses to your love and the building of your kingdom.  We have sinned and now seek assurance of your forgiveness.  We have been grouchy and unfair with those we love most, the members of our families and our own church.  We have been so preoccupied with our own difficulties and our own wants, we have forgotten the needs of others.  We have engaged in unkind gossip, we have spoken and acted without giving thought to the feelings of others.  We have not taken care to cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit and have allowed weeds to grow instead.  We have neglected faithful and corporate worship, and pretended our righteousness and rationalized our omission.

In these days of preparation for Christmas, when we are rushed, fuming, and fretting in preparation for giving gifts, awaiting guests, make us aware of your presence that we may be calmed and find peace in it.  Keep us from overdoing the unnecessary and underdoing the worthwhile.

Even now as we think of the needs of others, we should be embarrassed by our own selfishness; so lead us to those dark corners of life, and the lonely pathways where discouraged people travel, and guide us into redeeming ways, both for them and for us.

We commend to you those whose burdens weigh on our hearts—and those whose needs so many agencies of our city are trying to meet.  Bless those men and women and their groups as they seek the material power to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of the unfortunate.

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