Rise within us like the star
And make us restless
Till we journey on
To seek our peace in you
Song "What child is this?”
Forgive me
When I choose the wrong way
Restore me
Help me to have compassion for myself and others
To create a world that is good and just
And to carry your dream within me
We say the Lord’s Prayer in our own language
Reading: Luke 2v22-40
22 And when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what has been stated in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young doves.”
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s [b]Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples:
32 A light for revelation for the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and [f]rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be [g]opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage
, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the temple grounds, serving night and day with fasts and prayers. 38 And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
We pray this Christmas time, for people and situations that are on our hearts, for people who cannot afford to heat their homes or buy food, for those on strike, for those on long hospitals waiting lists, for Gaza and Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Hong Kong, China, our governments, for those who are alone and those suffering with depression, for the homeless, asylum seekers and refugees and victims of climate change.
May we not fail you though we face great dangers.
Give us your peace, your wisdom and your strength. Amen
Take us to Bethlehem
House of bread
Where the empty are filled
The poor find riches
And the rich recognise their poverty
Where all kneel, worship
And are fed.
Amen
With thanks to © Janet Morley adapted
