Dear God,lead us with the Wise Menby the star of your holy Wordto your Son, Christ Jesus,and always protect usfrom every attack. Then we will returnto our home countryby another route,that is, to Godby whom we are created,and finally come to the source again,as in a great golden ring. God help us,through Christ,our King and Priest,forever and ever.Amen. – Martin…
Well for me that I have Jesus, O how strong I hold to Him That He might refresh my heart when so sick and sad am I. Jesus have I, He who loves me, He who takes me as His own! Ah, therefore I don’t leave Jesus, Lest I should break my heart. A Celtic translation of ‘Jesu Joy Of…
Let the just rejoice, for their Justifier is born. Let the sick and infirm rejoice, For their Saviour is born. Let the captives rejoice, For their Redeemer is born. Let slaves rejoice, for their Master is born. Let free ones rejoice, For their Liberator is born. Let all Christians rejoice, For Jesus Christ is born. – St. Augustine of Hippo…
How miraculous – that a king stoop to enter the world of the ordinary, of the commoner, of His subject, of woman. But God did this. Why? Because humility, ever the lowliest of the low, always rises and triumphs- over everything else. And didn’t that woman know the greatest happiness? Cleaning up the ugly first mess, in its place she set a beautiful bouquet:…
Jesus, Lord of light and darkness, Find us in the darkness, Find us in the light. Jesus, Lord of work and stillness, Make our work of worth, Make our stillness yours. Jesus, Lord of our past and future, Cover our anxiety with love, Cover our hopes with grace. Jesus, Lord of everything, Fill those who have nothing, Fill us with…
Jesus Christ, you come to transfigure us and to renew us in the image of God: shine in our darkness. Jesus Christ, light of our hearts, you know our thirst: lead us to the wellspring of your Gospel. Jesus Christ, light of the world, you shine on every human being: enable us to discern your presence in each person. Jesus…
God of all time, we praise and adore you for breaking into the darkness of this world with the glorious light of your presence. A light which made your love for the world visible in the babe born in Bethlehem— Jesus Christ, your Son, our Saviour. A light which guided those gift-bearing travellers from afar to find and worship the…
Moonless darkness stands between. Past, the Past, no more be seen! But the Bethlehem star may lead me To the sight of him who freed me From the self that I have been. Make me pure, Lord; thou art holy; Make me meek; thou wert lowly; Now beginning, and alway; Now begin, on Christmas day. – Gerard Manley Hopkins…
Lord God of Life, together with the beautiful traditions of Christmas tree, carols and giving gifts, this Christmas dinner is an important part of our celebration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Come, Lord our God, and surround our feast day table, as we savour this coming together of family and friends. As the angels rejoiced at the birth of the…
Lord Jesus, Light of the world: You are our light. When all is darkness: You are our light. When our hearts are broken and we can’t find hope: You are our light. When we are afraid: You are our light. You are our God wrapped in rags and lying in a manger: You are our light. When we feel far from…
My soul praises the Lord. I rejoice in God my Saviour! For he took notice of his lowly servant, and now all generations will call me blessed. For The Mighty One, is Holy, and he has done great things for me. His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear him. His mighty arm does great things! He…