Loving God - Creating Hope - Changing Lives
The Season of Christmas begins on Christmas Day and continues for twelve days until January 5th. The liturgical color used during this season is white.
Christmas prayer of praise and confession
We praise You, O loving God, who gave Your very self in human form,
Your majesty born into our poverty, Your love lying in an out-house.
We thank You that, amidst Bethlehem's noisy rush, we find in You a focus for our activity,
a hope for you humanity, a love for all eternity.
But we confess that Christ's birth has gone unnoticed.
Now, as then, we have not made room in our day to day lives.
Now, as then, we have mislaid Your message of reconciling love.
Now, as then, we have ignored the stillness of Your presence.
Gift-giving God, forgive us. Free us from our self-centeredness.
Help us to accept Your love so freely given that we may live as You have called us to live. Amen.
- The Methodist Church in Britain
We praise You, O loving God, who gave Your very self in human form,
Your majesty born into our poverty, Your love lying in an out-house.
We thank You that, amidst Bethlehem's noisy rush, we find in You a focus for our activity,
a hope for you humanity, a love for all eternity.
But we confess that Christ's birth has gone unnoticed.
Now, as then, we have not made room in our day to day lives.
Now, as then, we have mislaid Your message of reconciling love.
Now, as then, we have ignored the stillness of Your presence.
Gift-giving God, forgive us. Free us from our self-centeredness.
Help us to accept Your love so freely given that we may live as You have called us to live. Amen.
- The Methodist Church in Britain
Collect for the First Sunday after Christmas:
Almighty God, You have poured upon us the new light of Your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer)
Almighty God, You have poured upon us the new light of Your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer)
Prayer for Twelfth Night (January 5)
-Book of Common Prayer
O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
Hymn: Light of the World (Phos hilaron)
Light of the world in grace and beauty,
Mirror of God’s eternal face,
Transparent flame of love’s free duty,
You bring salvation to our race.
Now, as we see the lights of evening,
We raise our voice in hymns of praise;
Worthy are You of endless blessing,
Sun of our night, lamp of our days.
-Book of Common Prayer
O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
Hymn: Light of the World (Phos hilaron)
Light of the world in grace and beauty,
Mirror of God’s eternal face,
Transparent flame of love’s free duty,
You bring salvation to our race.
Now, as we see the lights of evening,
We raise our voice in hymns of praise;
Worthy are You of endless blessing,
Sun of our night, lamp of our days.