A Christmas Prayer

Lord of love
In this season of memory, help us to remember all those for whom this is a dark and burdened time:
the poor, for whom this is a season of want;
the unemployed, for whom this is a season of disappointment;
the homeless, for whom this is a season of cold;
the sick, for whom this is a season of suffering;
the lonely, for whom this is a season of despair;
the imprisoned, for whom this is a season of isolation;
the survivors of lost loved ones, for whom this is a season of sorrow;
and the men and women serving our country abroad, for whom this is a season of separation from family and friends.
Gracious God,
we remember them because we know that you remember them,
that in your kingdom no one is forgotten,
no one is abandoned,
no one is finally alone.
And it is in that spirit that we also remember
that this is a season of hope and grace and light,
that this is a time when we mark history's witness
to the greatest act of love the world has ever known.
For this is the season when we rememer the transformative power
of a child,
come into the world to change the world,
come into our lives to change our lives,
come into our hearts to change our hearts.
Oh, may it be so.
Amen.