Beloved in Christ:

I have no greater wish or prayer for you in these last days before the Feast of the Incarnation, than that you and your loved ones find time for peace, memory-making, and joy. The weather on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is not going to be terribly conducive to getting out of the house to drive to church, but know that the doors will be opened, the candles will be lit, the organ and the choir will be leading the beautiful traditional music, and the church will be filled with the warm reds of poinsettias and the love of our church family. Christmas will be celebrated, we will rejoice in the anniversary of the birth of Emmanuel, God with us. The 6:00pm Christmas Eve service and the Christmas Day service will  be livestreamed, so you can join in the worship and music from wherever you are.

I have found this prayer  to be meaningful in my prayer life and hope you find it helpful as well. A very merry Christmas to you all.

Blessings and gratitude,

Beth+

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Thou Son of the Most High, Prince of Peace, be born again into our world. Wherever there is war in this world, wherever there is pain, wherever there is loneliness, wherever there is no hope, come, thou long-expected one, with healing in thy wings.

Holy Child, whom the shepherds and the kings and the dumb beasts adored, be born again. Wherever there is boredom, wherever there is fear of failure, wherever there is temptation too strong to resist, wherever there is bitterness of heart, come, thou blessed one, with healing in thy wings.

Savior, be born in each of us who raises their face to thy face, not knowing fully who they are or who thou art, knowing only that they love is beyond their knowing and that no other has the power to make them whole. Come, Lord Jesus, to each who longs for thee even though they have forgotten thy name. Come quickly. Amen.