Christmas Eve virtual devotional

"The Nativity" by James He Qi

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Welcome

Prayer (St. Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153) – “Let Your goodness, Lord, appear to us, that we, made in your image, conform ourselves to it. In our own strength we cannot imitate Your majesty, power, and wonder nor is it fitting for us to try. But Your mercy reaches from the heavens through the clouds to the earth below. You have come to us as a small child, but you have brought us the greatest of all gifts, the gift of eternal love. Caress us with Your tiny hands, embrace us with Your tiny arms and pierce our hearts with Your soft, sweet cries. Amen.” 

“What Child Is This?” – Jubliante Ringers, December 15, 2019

Lesson – Psalm 68

A Christmas Prayer from India (Savithri Devanesen, India)

Lord, there is enchantment in the air tonight casting a mysterious spell of expectancy on all creation fulfilling the promise of the birth of God on earth as a human child. And as I watch with trembling hope the wondrous pageant pass by of poor shepherds and powerful kings the radiant serenity of the night is suddenly broken by a storm of power-drunk winds spewing bullets of hatred, hurling stones of violence on men and women on frightened children all fleeing from the grips of oppressive structures, from bondage of sorrow and broken lives, from explosive knowledge which has not yet solved the problems of hunger and poverty, from crumbling values which confuse the mind, from death itself... searching for the manger where God’s love and goodness for all humanity blossoms in the heart of a babe and lets us know anew this Christmas morn all people as our brother, as our sister. Amen.

Lesson – Psalm 97

A Christmas Prayer from Japan (Masao and Fumiko Takenaka, Japan)

Living Water One who said I am the eternal water dwelt among us, living with us, sustaining us, this is Christmas. To receive a cup of living water is not only to cleanse us, but also to cleanse all the waters. River and well, lake and ocean, and to share them with all. This is Christmas. Amen.

"Christmas Lullaby" (John Rutter) – Anthem Airs, December 24, 2019 

Lesson – Psalm 98

A Christmas Prayer from Spain (Richard Wilcox, Spain)

O Holy One, Word made flesh, eternity captured in a life within time, heaven laid in a manger stall; You, the Light dipped down into our darkness: we pray that You will forgive our sins and make us clean and open to receive You at Your coming. Loose us today from our treacheries toward You and our cruelties toward one another. Now we have come again, dear Lord, to the time of the Morning Star, to Yourself moving as azure blue into our contamination; as open touch to our fisted exclusiveness; as a carol sung to our meagerness; as rose to our bitterness; as love to our emptiness. You are upon us as sky, hands, songs, garlands, tastes making us Yours in joy. We marvel not that angelic hosts sang and shouted for joy. Amen.

Lesson – Psalm 102

A Christmas Prayer from Iran (Gherajeh Da’aghi, Iran)

O People, take a notice, the Messiah has come! The Saviour of the World has come! All the creation testifies to His coming, open your hearts and see your Redeemer! Don’t wait another day, open your eyes, and see, Prince of Peace, the Messiah has come. Amen.

“There’s Still My Joy” sung by Don Berlin, December 25, 2020

Lesson – Psalm 147

A Christmas Prayer from South Africa (Zulu, South Africa)

Great is our happiness great is, O King, our happiness in Thy kingdom, Thou, our king. We dance before Thee, our king, by the strength of Thy kingdom. May our feet be made strong; let us dance before Thee, eternal. Give ye praise, all angels, to the One above who is worthy of praise. Amen.

Reflection – Pastor Charles

“Fall On Your Knees” – Anthem Airs, December 24, 2019

Closing prayer (Robert Lewis Stevenson, 1850-1894) – “Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”