Christmas Brings Out the Best in Us

It is the time of great hospitality; a time for giving and sharing of presence and presents; our homes are cleaned and decorated to look their best; there are new Christmas clothes to wear and beautiful music fills the air. The sights, the sounds and the smells of Christmas bring back treasured memories of childhood. Yes, all the things that surround the celebration of the birth of Jesus bring out our best.

We gather at church at Christmas to celebrate this most wonderful day. We take the bread and the wine, the body and blood of Jesus, and we pray for wholeness, radiating the image of Jesus, Son of God, love’s pure light. Jesus, who came to us to show us who God is and how to live a life that is rich in meaning and pleasing to God, is the cause of this goodness we display at this time of year. Jesus, who came that we might have life, is God’s greatest gift to us. O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.  O Little Town of Bethlehem vs. 4

Gracious God, thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus, and for the many blessings with which you shower us. Help us to be grateful for the Gift, and help us to live our lives for your Glory.  Amen.