Theme “Christmas”
Chalice Lighting for Unity
We light this chalice
for all children who long for love,
for orphans seeking comfort,
and for widows and widowers
who carry both sorrow and strength.
May this small flame travel across the world
and remind us that,
black and white, young and old,
we are one family under nature.
As December arrives
and Christmas draws near,
When the Christmas Star is Shining
When the Christmas star is shining
In the night sky overhead
And the city streets are silent
And the children safe in bed,
You may not see Santa passing
With his reindeer and his sleigh,
But a horde of willing helpers
Still prepare for Christmas day.
We are each a tiny fragment
Of the boundless world
Letting the story speak
This Christmas, let us open our hearts, and extend an invitation to those familiar figures, allowing the old story of the nativity to speak to us anew.
Mary and Joseph, poor and weary travellers, speak to us:
Show us the way of acceptance and love;
of saying ‘yes’ and embracing the mystery.
Shepherds, steadfast and humble
Praise to this the Holy night
Tune: Gerontius
Praise to this the Holy night,
And all look on in awe.
Christ child born in Holy grace,
Under western star.
Peace to the world this Holy day,
For all who pray in hope.
Christ child born in of Bethlehem,
Under risen sun.
Joy to the world, this Holy day,
Sing we
No Christmas in Bethlehem
Matthew 2: 18
There’s no Christmas in Bethlehem this year.
No Christmas tree, no coloured lights,
no celebrations, no revellers…
There’s too much suffering,
too much violence, too much hatred,
too much resentment, too much oppression.
Too many people are homeless,
too many are refugees, too many are fearful,
too many are hungry, too many are sick.
Too many
The Gifts of the Magi: A Guided Meditation
The Gospel of Matthew tells us the magi brought the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn Jesus. Gold represented Christ’s kingship, his sovereignty; frankincense represented his divinity; myrrh represented his humanity, his mortality.
Let us consider how these gifts have manifested in our own lives over the past year – taking them in
Blessing for those who find Christmas difficult
If this time is tough, may you find comfort
amid your sorrow and healing amid your pain.
May you know that you are the light of the world.
Chalice lighting for Christmas
Every child is a miracle and a mystery
And in the one born at midnight
In the dark time of the year
We see all children leaping into the light
And as we light this flame
We honour the light in everyone,
the Christ in everyone,
the child in everyone.