BETHLEHEM S HOLY CHILD: PRAYING ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS A Sampler

Transcription

1 BETHLEHEM S HOLY CHILD: PRAYING ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS A Sampler By Ron Martin-Adkins A. Leaving for Bethlehem: Early Advent B. On the Way to Bethlehem: Advent C. That Night in Bethlehem: Christmas Eve D. That Day in Bethlehem: Christmas Day E. Visitors in Bethlehem: Epiphany F. Leaving Bethlehem: Innocents and Exile

2 A. LEAVING FOR BETHLEHEM: EARLY ADVENT Can we ever prepare for your arrival? Perhaps you always come when the house is untidy, the bank account unbalanced, the schedule out of control. We don t make the path straight for you. Your spirit messenger does that. When you come, we simply stand in awe like shepherds hearing a divine choir. Behold, to you this day is born a Savior. Amazed by your presence, we move forward, a new bounce in our step, a new hope in our heart. Surprise us once more, we pray. You have our attention because you represent hope. We find you appealing because you offer forgiveness. We bow before you as the revelation of God to the world. We bring gifts to your manger because you are God s gift of love to the world.

3 B. ON THE WAY TO BETHLEHEM: ADVENT I have room for you in the shed out back. I have room for you in the hall closet. I have room for you in the attic. I have room for you in the unfinished basement. Beggars can t be choosers. I long for joy in my life. I long for peace in my life. I long for hope in my life. I long for love in my life. Beggars can t be choosers. Do you have room for me in your heart? Long-expected One, Some of us wait for a savior who will prove the existence of God. You came as a child conceived by an unwed mother. Some of us wait for a savior to arrive amid cataclysmic events, to spare the righteous and condemn the unrighteous. You came inviting all to your great feast of mercy and forgiveness. Some of us wait for a savior until the timing is better in our lives. You came when you came and said now is the time for deciding. Some of us wait for a savior who will bring peace to the earth. You came bearing peace for all who receive you.

4 C. THAT NIGHT IN BETHLEHEM: CHRISTMAS EVE Angels sang at your birth, proclaiming heaven s blessing to people of good will. Surely angels sang at our births, too, announcing the blessings that we bring to our communities. Shepherds wondered at your birth what was God doing? What miracle was this child? Surely simple believers wondered at our births, too what miracles would God do through us? Wise men bowed in reverence at your birth, acknowledging the mystery of the One come in fulfillment of promise. Surely wise ones bowed in reverence at our births, too, recognizing the promise in each one of us, unique and prepared for through all of time. We recall your birth with devotion. May we in doing so also recall the amazing fact of our own birth and live to the glory of God. HYMN: Angels We Have Heard on High You are here, come to bless us with your love. You are here, come to free us from our captivity. You are here, come to restore us to God s peace. You are here, come to lead us in paths of justice. You are here, come to guide us in ways of righteousness. You are here, come to soften and warm hard and frozen hearts. You are here, come to renew a sense of wonder. You are here, come to comfort us in our pain and grief. You are here, come to instill lasting hope in God s faithfulness. You are here.

5 D. THAT DAY IN BETHLEHEM: CHRISTMAS DAY We celebrate your birth because in you we see God in our midst, sharing our life and demonstrating its possibilities. We celebrate your birth because your life changed our lives for the better, freeing us to live with hope and joy and love. We celebrate your birth because you represent God s great gift of love. Because of you, the bells ring every day, and their song is always of peace on earth, good will to all. The words that accompanied your birth have penetrated the world so that the lack of peace is seen as a moral failure on our part. You brought it to us, but we have trouble holding on to it. We continue to repeat the refrain; each year it serves as a reminder of what God intends: Peace on Earth, Good Will to All.

6 E. VISITORS IN BETHLEHEM: EPIPHANY When the wise ones came, they expected you to be royalty. They did not know enough to expect divinity. When the wise ones came, they deposited their gifts. They did not know enough to offer their lives. When the wise ones came, they then returned to their homes by another route. They did not know enough to realize their true home was with you. we may not have their wisdom, but we know your divinity, we know you ask for our lives in your service, and we know our ultimate home lies with you. The world is in as much turmoil, or more, than when you entered this sphere. What difference did you make? there are wars and rumors of wars, inhumane torture and terrorism. We sing with the heavenly host: Peace on earth, good will to all. But what difference did you make? we have the poor among and around us in staggering numbers. How are they blessed? And what difference did you make? we are beset by guilt and sin, ever inventive in our application of the deadly host. What difference did you make? we behold with wonder the fact that you came and lived and died as one of us. we behold with wonder that you announced God s forgiveness despite our unworthiness. we behold with wonder that you demonstrated God s love for humanity and God s desire that we experience life in its richness and abundance. we behold with wonder that you have made a world of difference. Follow with Confession and Assurance

7 F. LEAVING BETHLEHEM: INNOCENTS AND EXILE Mary s Firstborn, You carried the hopes of a young woman. You delighted her with your growth and development. You amazed her with your wisdom and abilities. You frightened her with your daring. You pleased her with your sensitivity. You made her proud with your charisma and service. You frightened her with your daring. You troubled her with your bold teaching and preaching. You made her glow with your love. You frightened her with your daring. You made her cry in pain. You made her shout for joy, Firstborn. When you left Palestine and went to Egypt, your death was put off for approximately thirty years... Long enough for you to grow in stature and in favor with God and your community, Long enough for you to develop your thoughts about God and how to share them with others, Long enough for you to perfect your gifts to share with those around you, Long enough for you to realize the importance of forgiveness in the life of the spirit, Long enough to attract a ministering band of followers, Long enough to again come to the attention of death-minded authorities. We should live so long.