6 people are
standing at the front of the church. Person 1 faces the microphone. 5 people
wearing party hats stand in a line with their backs to the congregation. Before
each person speaks they turn, face the congregation and remove their hat.
Person 1
Well Jesus,
Christmas morning is finally here.
Tinsel is
flying, presents are being opened.
We are all
here to sing and celebrate the way you came into our world.
“Joy to the
world, the Lord is come,” we sing.
But maybe
it’s not everyone that feels like celebrating today …
Person 2
Our family is such a mess. Lunch is at
Mum’s, dinner’s at Dads and no one likes talking to each other much.
Person 1
Lord Jesus,
we pray for broken relationships, broken families, broken hearts. Bring
reconciliation and new beginnings. Bring paths through the wilderness. May
peace, hope and joy be real for these people today and in the days to come.
Person 3
This is our first Christmas without grandma.
Person 1
Lord Jesus,
we pray for anyone who is missing someone today. Bring comfort. May peace, joy
and hope be real for these people today and in the days to come.
Person 4
I feel so sad all the time. I don’t remember
the last time I felt happy.
Person 1
Lord Jesus,
we pray for people who are living with depression and other mental health
conditions for whom celebration seems a difficult or forgotten idea. And we pray for people who struggle with
their health in other ways. Bring your healing. May peace, hope and joy be real
for these people today and in the days to come.
Person 5
Presents? I don’t even have enough to feed
my family today.
Person 1
Lord Jesus,
we pray for enough for all people. We pray for just trade, good leadership,
good sharing, good seasons, generous giving. May peace, hope and joy be real
for these people today and in the days to come.
Person 6
My country is in a state of war. I don’t
know what tomorrow might bring.
Person 1
Lord Jesus,
we pray for people in battle zones, for whom survival will be a higher priority
than celebration today. May peace, hope and joy be real for these people today
and in the days to come.
Lord Jesus,
born at Christmas, Lord of our world, you came to live among us and be a light
for us in all of our beauty and all of our pain. Help us, along with you, to be
peacemakers, hope bringers and joy givers today and in the days to come.
Amen
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