Rise within us like the star
And make us restless
Till we journey on
To seek our peace in you
Song “Lord of the dance”
A candle is lit.
We light a candle for light, sending
prayers high into the inky heavens and
dreams deep into our human soul.
We light a candle for light. May it light our way.
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
Revelation 21v1-6
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
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 mental illness, for the homeless, asylum seekers and refugees and victims of climate change. May we not fail you though we face great dangers.
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
