Pastor’s Prayers

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,

Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,

Within my heart, that it may be

A quiet chamber kept for Thee.



My heart for very joy doth leap,

My lips no more can silence keep, 

I too must sing, with joyful tongue,

That sweetest ancient song, 



Glory to God in highest heaven,

Who unto man His Son hath given

While angels sing with pious mirth.

A glad new year to all the earth! 

–Martin Luther

Lord, our God and Father give to many to all, and to us as well, that we may celebrate Christmas like this: that in complete thankfulness, utter humpty, and then complete joy and confidence we may come to the one whom you have sent and in whom you yourself have come to us. Clean out the many things in us that, now that the hour has come, have become impossible for us, can no longer belong to us, may, must, and will fall away form us, by virtue of your beloved Son, our Lord and Savior, entering into our midst and creating order. Have mercy also on all those who either do not yet or do not fully know you and your kingdom, who perhaps once knew everything and have either forgotten, misunderstood, or even denied it! ….. We thank you that we are permitted to know that we do not pray and will never pray to you in vain. We thank you that you have let your light rise, that it shines in the darkness, and that the darkness will not overcome it. We thank you that you are God, and that we may be your people. Amen.

–Karl Barth

1. 
     O Mercy Divine, 
     How couldst Thou incline, 
My God, to become such an infant as mine?

2. 
     What a wonder of grace, 
     The Ancient of Days 
Is found in the likeness of Adam’s frail race!

3 
     He comes from on high, 
     Who fashion’d the sky, 
And meekly vouchsafes in a manger to lie.

4. 
     Our God, ever blest, 
     With oxen doth rest, 
Is nursed by His creature, and hangs at the breast.

5. 
     So heavenly mild 
     His innocence smiled, 
No wonder the mother should worship the Child.

6. 
     The angels she knew 
     Had worshipp’d Him too, 
And still they confess adoration His due.

7. 
     On Jesus’s face 
     With eager amaze, 
And pleasures ecstatic, the cherubim gaze.

8. 
     Their newly born King 
     Transported they sing, 
And heaven and earth with the triumph doth ring.

9. 
     The shepherds behold
     Him promised of old 
By angels attended, by prophets foretold.

10. 
     The wise men adore, 
     And bring Him their store, 
The rich are permitted to follow the poor.

11. 
     To the inn they repair, 
     To see the young Heir;
The inn is a palace, for Jesus is there.

12. 
     Who now would be great, 
     And not rather wait
On Jesus, their Lord, in His humble estate?

13. 
     Like Him would I be, 
     My Master I see
In a stable; a stable shall satisfy me.

14. 
     With Him I reside; 
     The manger shall hide
Mine honour, the manger shall bury my pride.

15. 
     And here will I lie, 
     Till raised up on high,
With Him on the cross, I recover the sky.

–Charles Wesley (Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord, 1745)

Come, Sun and Savior, to embrace Our gloomy world,
its weary race,
As groom to bride, as bride to groom:
The wedding chamber, Mary’s womb.
At your great Name, O Jesus, now
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
All things on earth with one accord,
Like those in heaven, shall call you Lord.
Come in your holy might, we pray,
Redeem us for eternal day;
Defend us while we dwell below,
From all assaults of our dread foe.

Advent Hymn from 8^th Century

O My God, Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects, my heart admires, adores, loves thee, for my little vessel is as full as it can be, and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up, ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart, crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created, for adorning it, for sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil;

for the body thou hast given me, for preserving its strength and vigour, for providing senses to enjoy delights, for the ease and freedom of my limbs, for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;

for thy royal bounty providing my daily support, for a full table and overflowing cup, for appetite, taste, sweetness, for social joys of relatives and friends, for ability to serve others, for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities, for a mind to care for my fellow-men, for opportunities of spreading happiness around, for loved ones in the joys of heaven, for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language to express, for what thou art to thy creatures. Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

–Puritan Prayer (The Valley of Vision)

O Lord, may nothing dwell in my soul
But your pure love alone.
Till my every thought, word, and act be love.
Yes Lord, may your love posses me whole;
You’re my joy, my treasure, my crown!

(“A Plain Account of Christian Perfection” by John Wesley.
Paraphrased by Bill Gaultiere.)