Our church building may be closed, but God’s eyes are open and his ears are attentive to our prayers (2 Chronicles 7.15).

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Opening

Speak these words out loud:

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9.2 (NIV)

Today’s Reading

Read the verse through three or four times, slowly. Pause in-between, maybe write it out by hand – savour the words, let them speak deeply to you.

For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4.6 (NIV)

Are you ready for Christmas yet?

It is going to be so strange – it probably already is, I’m writing this three weeks ago! – without the big carol services, meeting smaller numbers of people, worrying about our health, missing loved ones that we can’t see or who have died this year.

For much of this year I have struggled with the darkness. I’ve spent almost all of almost every day holed up in my study, staring at computer screens. I’ve missed my church, my friends, my family. I’ve missed singing together and I’ve missed praying together. I’ve missed preaching to an actual congregation instead of a camera lens. I’ve missed laughing over quizzes and puzzles at the Place of Welcome. I’ve missed so much.

All those things are important, and we will have them back – and hopefully soon.

But what is more important, and what doesn’t get any dimmer even when we are stuck at home, is the light of Jesus. His light shines, no matter how we feel: it isn’t about finding the way of turning the light on, it’s about learning to see that it is already shining.

On that wondrous first Christmas morning, Jesus the Light of the World shone – and it has never gone out since. God made his light shine – not ‘will’ or ‘might’ – he has already done it.

Brothers and sisters, may you see and know the light of Jesus shining on and within you this Christmas.

Prayers

Pray for Five – pray for your five friends / family from Thy Kingdom Come.

Our daily prayer sheet includes the names of everyone for whom we have a signed church family directory form – and local parishes and senior church leaders. Today we are praying for:

Marian Cox, Christine Farmer, Judith Walker

Father, please bless them with your peace, and a deep awareness of your presence with them, every day and in every way.

We also pray for: Youth Work – something new

Please pray for our leaders and healthcare workers, and all those working to keep us safe, well, and fed. Please pray that people would unselfishly put others before themselves.

Church Family Prayer

Come Holy Spirit,
and make us one in heart and action,
so that we can serve God faithfully:
abounding in love,
maturing in holiness,
and seeking out the lost.
Help us grow as disciples of Jesus –
in commitment, in depth, and in number –
that we may be a blessing to Amington;
to the glory and praise of God the Father.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

Closing Prayer

Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
the only way to the Father.

Psalm 127.1, Hebrews 12.2 & John 14.6

May Christ our Saviour give us peace.
Amen.