Come Together to Celebrate
Christians believe Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. A great time to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday is during Christmas dinner. Saying a prayer or grace is a way to reflect on your blessings before digging into a delicious meal. It may make your family feel closer and help remind you what really matters on December 25 (or Christmas Eve).
Invite Rev Sharon to your table virtually to share one of these Christmas Dinner Prayers
OR
Read/ modify one of the following
Christmas Graces at your gathering
Gift of Love
Creator, on this day in which we celebrate the birth of the Holy Child we give thanks especially for the gift of love in our lives. Your unconditional love surrounds us always, comforts us when we need comforting, gives us courage when we need to act, and leads us to be more loving to others in return. For this and our many other blessings we give thanks. Amen
~ Joanne Melville
We Give Thanks
Holy one, on this joyous day, we give you thanks for the love of friends and family, the bounty of healthy food on our table and blessing of safety in our community. Amen
~ Joanne Melville
We Are Grateful
In a world in which catastrophic war and conflict are occurring, we are grateful to live in safety, in a world in which many are separated from family and friends we are grateful to be sitting with ones we love, in a world in which many are hungry, we are grateful for this feast we enjoy today. For these and our many other blessings we give you thanks. Amen
~ Joanne Melville
With Joy We Pray
Dear God, we give thanks for this time when we can all be together. We give thanks for this food which is bountiful and delicious. We give thanks for this joyful holiday when we can celebrate our Savior and his love for us. With joy we pray, Amen.
— Beth McLendon
Light of the World
Jesus, the Light of the World, as we celebrate your birth, may we begin to see the world in the light of understanding you give us. As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor to receive the greatest news the world had ever known, may we worship you. May we also remember our brothers and sisters less fortunate than ourselves in this season of giving. Amen.
— Karen L. Oberst
Bring Us Great Joy
Father, let us remember that the good news of Jesus’ birth has the power to bring us great joy this Christmas season. Our joy isn’t dependent on what is going on in our life, in our world, or the people that we are with. It doesn’t depend on the gifts we give or the gifts we find under the tree. No earthly thing can ever give us complete joy. Our joy comes from you. That joy that flooded the hearts of the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, and Mary and Joseph is the joy that still has the power to overwhelm our hearts with rejoicing.
— Hope Bolinger
