God of light, thank you for always lighting the way for us and especially for sending us Jesus Christ who is the light of the world. Thank you for all of the candles around the Advent Wreath that remind us that you are always shining the light of hope, peace, joy, and love not just at Christmas time, but every day of the year.
Whenever we face disappointment, grief, sadness, loneliness, confusion, or pain, help us to remember this night of lights. Remind us of this night when we lit the Christ Candle and how beautiful it is when your church shines your light together.
Thank you that Christmas is real. Hope is real! Peace is real! Joy is real! Love is real! Christ is real!
Tonight, as we lift your light as we sing “Silent Night,” we lift up those who are in need of hope; those who are anxious about the future, those who are hungry, those who are without shelter, those who have experienced disappointment.
We lift up those who are in need of peace; those who are in places of war and conflict, those who are serving in the armed forces and away from their families, those experiencing broken relationships.
We lift up those who are in need of joy; those who are in prison, those who are tired; those who are ill.
We lift up those who are in need of love; those who are separated from their families, those who find it hard to forgive themselves, those whose hearts are hardened.
On this holy night, O God, we lift up the light of the Christ Candle on behalf of all these needs as well as others that are on our hearts and minds this night. Amen.
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