Prayers – In This Small Place Made Glorious

Responsive prayers by Brad Offutt, for use at Christmas services.

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, You offered Your Peace to anyone who would be satisfied with Your presence.

We celebrate Your Peace in Your Church and accept Your commission to share it in all the world.

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, right here where we are.

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 in this small place made glorious by Your being in it.

God of deliverance, You came to be one of us in order to deliver all of us.

We celebrate Your protection and mercy toward all who are sick or in trouble.

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 and that we are welcome in it right now and always. Keep us close, now and in the life to come.

God of Christmas, bless us as we once again celebrate Your coming into Your creation.

Amen.

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.

I pulled the phrase “in this small place made glorious” from the body of the prayer to use as a title, because for me, the phrase exemplifies how these prayers express the wonder and power of the Incarnation.