20 November 2011
A Christmas Prayer
11/23/11 08:34 PM Filed in: From the Pastor
Lord,
Deliver us from the spirit of consumerism - from shopping lists, full-color catalogs, and credit card purchases which haunt us all year long.
Deliver us from empty cheer and season’s greetings born of obligation, sent without meaning.
Deliver us from the whirl of social events which supposedly honor Jesus’ birth but in reality are nothing more than another desperate attempt to coax some joy and meaning into a life filled to the brim with busyness.
Surely Christmas is supposed to be more than this, more than another round in our bumper car existence...
“How are you doing?” (Bump, bump.)
“Great party, isn’t it?” (Bump, bump, bump.)
Grant us the true Christmas spirit, Lord - the generosity of heart, the self-forgetfulness, the love which caused You to wrap Yourself in the garments of our humanity and live among us for a time.
Grant us the true Christmas spirit, Lord - the genuine joy of authentic celebration, angels singing, shepherds stumbling through the dark in search of the Savior, Elizabeth’s song, Simeon’s prophecy, Anna’s exclamation of praise!
Grant us the true Christmas spirit, Lord - hymns of faith sung from the heart, true worship, candlelight communion, prayer more real than words, the simple pleasure of family and friends, the excitement of children, adult conversation laced with memories, childhoods remembered and relived for a day.
Grant us the true Christmas spirit, Lord.
Deliver us from the spirit of consumerism - from shopping lists, full-color catalogs, and credit card purchases which haunt us all year long.
Deliver us from empty cheer and season’s greetings born of obligation, sent without meaning.
Deliver us from the whirl of social events which supposedly honor Jesus’ birth but in reality are nothing more than another desperate attempt to coax some joy and meaning into a life filled to the brim with busyness.
Surely Christmas is supposed to be more than this, more than another round in our bumper car existence...
“How are you doing?” (Bump, bump.)
“Great party, isn’t it?” (Bump, bump, bump.)
Grant us the true Christmas spirit, Lord - the generosity of heart, the self-forgetfulness, the love which caused You to wrap Yourself in the garments of our humanity and live among us for a time.
Grant us the true Christmas spirit, Lord - the genuine joy of authentic celebration, angels singing, shepherds stumbling through the dark in search of the Savior, Elizabeth’s song, Simeon’s prophecy, Anna’s exclamation of praise!
Grant us the true Christmas spirit, Lord - hymns of faith sung from the heart, true worship, candlelight communion, prayer more real than words, the simple pleasure of family and friends, the excitement of children, adult conversation laced with memories, childhoods remembered and relived for a day.
Grant us the true Christmas spirit, Lord.