These
Prayers of the People were first used at Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2008
services at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Port Townsend, Washington. They were written by Brad Offutt.
Prayer Litany:
In This Small Place Made Glorious
God of
unimaginable love,
on the
first Christmas You became one of us.
We celebrate Your love for every person
in every place and time.
God of all humanity,
God of all humanity,
You offered
Your Peace to anyone
who would
be satisfied with Your presence.
We celebrate Your Peace in Your Church
We celebrate Your Peace in Your Church
and accept Your commission to share it in all the
world.
God of the shepherds,
God of the shepherds,
You
announced Your arrival among us to the poorest, the most humble.
We celebrate Your good news to each of us and to everyone,
We celebrate Your good news to each of us and to everyone,
right here where we are.
God of the manger,
God of the manger,
You came to
us through Your Son in a small and simple place.
We celebrate Your presence with us this day
We celebrate Your presence with us this day
in this small place made glorious by Your being in
it.
God of deliverance,
God of deliverance,
You came to
be one of us in order to deliver all of us.
We celebrate Your protection and mercy
We celebrate Your protection and mercy
toward all who are sick or in trouble.
God of birth,
God of birth,
when You
became as we are,
You opened
Yourself to each of us,
no matter
who or what we are.
We celebrate this day Your Kingdom
We celebrate this day Your Kingdom
and that we are welcome in it right now and always.
Keep us close, now and in the life to come.
God of Christmas,
God of Christmas,
bless us as
we once again celebrate Your coming into Your creation.
Amen.
~ written by Brad Offutt for the 2008 Christmas services at
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Port Townsend, Washington. Posted on In the Courtyard. www.inthecourtyard.com
