Immanuel -God with us... A Prayer of Thanksgiving and Confession for the Sunday before Christmas.

Loving and righteous God

We come together today to celebrate in song and word

Your great gift of love,

We remember at Christmas that you sent your son into the world

To become one of us and to save us

Immanuel –God with us

 

Creator of all that is

God with out beginning and end

In a mystery so deep

You became a child in the womb

You were born into our world

Not to riches and privilege and palace

But in a manger to ordinary folk

So wonderfully blessed

Immanuel- God with us

 

Jesus Christ, prince of peace

Child born at Bethlehem

We praise God for you

As a man

You showed us God’s love

You healed the sick

cared for the poor

Welcomed the outcast

Invited us to come to You

Immanuel –God with us

 

Jesus Christ, Saviour and friend

In your death on the cross

You made it possible for us to be forgiven

To know God and be adopted as beloved sons and daughters

In your being raised from the dead you gave us the new life

Immanuel- God with us

 

By your spirit you dwell with us still

In the midst of our everyday life there is the presence of the eternal

You light our way

Lead us into truth

You comfort us and strengthen us to live for you

Immanuel- God with us

 

God today because of this great love and mercy

We turn to you and ask that you may forgive us for the things we have done wrong

 

Forgive us

we have thought it all revolved around us and our wants and ways

We have not keep your word or followed your ways

We do not always love as you have loved us

We are not as gracious to all as you have been gracious to us

We have done what we should not do and left undone much of the good you call us to.

Forgive us O lord

 

Hear again the assurance from Immanuel -God with us

 

That if we confess our sins God is faithful and just and forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness

You are forgiven

 

Fill us again with you spirit O God

Enable us to know the love that came at Christmas

Empower us to show the love that came at Christmas

To family and friend,

Stranger outcast and even foe

To bring your good news to all

Immanuel – God with us