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Amidst the giving of gifts, the excitement of children and the cooking of traditional dinners, it is easy to miss "the reason for the season", the birth of God's son, Jesus Christ.  There are several ways of bring Jesus back into our family celebrations of Christmas, including church services.  Here though, are a number of prayers for use at various stages of the day - these can be said by the family together, or silently in a moment aside from the rush.

A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson

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.

 At present opening time :

Lord Jesus, Wise men travelled for miles to bring you the first Christmas presents. So may we, too, remember with thankful hearts the love that comes with each present we open.  We also thank you for the amazing love you have for each of us, and we thank you for the many gifts that you give us. Amen
At Christmas lunch :

We thank you, Father God, for the love that binds us, for the food that nourishes us, and for your giving of your Son into our world to save us. Amen.
For those who work on Christmas Day :

Lord.  As I spend today going about my work, help me to put aside any bitterness that I'm not celebrating at home with loved ones. I ask you, Loving Father, to give me a special sense of your presence as I meet people, that I may shed on them the light of the Bethlehem Star, the Spirit of Christmas. Amen.

Prayers at Christmas
For reflection :.

Father God, When your precious Son became a tiny baby in a stable in Bethlehem in poverty and simplicity, you changed our world. As we imagine those surroundings, we join with the shepherds and the wise men in wonder and praise. We thank you for our material lives, praise you for our spiritual lives, and trust in you for our eternal life. Amen.

Some readings from the Bible for Christmas:

St Luke 2 : 1-20, - St Luke tells the traditional nativity story.
John 1 : 1-18, - the Prologue to St.John's Gospel reveals how Jesus was destined to be born from the very beginning of time.
1 John 4:7-14 - reminds us of God's love for us in giving His son to be born as a human baby.
Isaiah 9:2,6,7  - the prophet Isaiah foretells the coming of the Prince of Peace.


All material is copyright to The Teal Trust, 2002, but may be reproduced with permission for non-profit use.