As the global refugee crisis continues to rise and as a person of faith whose Lord was a himself a refugee, this prayer seemed appropriate for Christmas Eve this year.
Almighty God, we gather again tonight to be reminded of your story, to celebrate your great coming into the world and to rekindle the hope that new life offers us. As we hear your story, we will be reminded that your birth took place when “Quirinius governed Syria” and if we keep reading your story we learn that you and your family had to flee, as refugees, to Egypt. This year we too have been reminded, that, like you and your family, millions of people are fleeing their homelands as refugees this year. We are reminded of so many who know the throes of hunger, the bitterness of not having a place to lay one’s head, and feelings of despair and hopelessness.
We share this with you Jesus, for you know these things all too well.
Soon we will sing “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
We know that this is so. It is why we’ve come to this holy sanctuary tonight.
And so, we join the poet in lighting a candle this night and affirming that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not extinguish the light.” Thank you for your deep love for us and your creation, help us to reflect your light into the darkest places of the world this year as we join in praying that prayer you taught us…Our Father…