Sunday, December 16, 2007

Christmas / The Great Thanksgiving

As we enter into the last weeks of preparation for Christmas let us remember that in the rush for this day of all days that Jesus was born to die for us. What I present to you is from The book of Common Prayer used in The Episcopal Church.
Even today the words ring true to me, and help me to remember why I have chosen to walk the path to heaven.


"The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your name:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power of might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you , in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for all the world."

and finally

" Christ has died.
Christ has risen.
Christ will come again."

It is far too easy to let these ancient words fall out over the gums and not let the power of them
over come us with great joy and sadness. These words are to be read as if we are experiencing something that you want to last forever.

May the peace of Christ be with all of you.

Robert