A Christmas Prayer

This is the prayer from our worship service last night. Take a few moments and pray it out loud or with a friend or family member today. It trades off lines between Psalm 146:5-10 where the author of this poem is yearning for God’s kingdom and justice to come and Luke 1:47-55 when Mary realizes that she’s going to give birth to the One who will bring God’s kingdom and justice.

Mary
My soul glorifies the Lord!
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

Psalm 146
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the Lord their God.

Mary:
From now on all generations will call me happy,
For the Mighty One has done great things for me.
Holy is God’s Name!

Psalm 146
Our hope is in the one who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and everything in them - who remains faithful forever.

Mary
The Lord has shown strength with his arm,
    Scattering those who in their inmost thoughts are proud.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
     And has lifted up the humble.

Psalm 146
God frustrates the ways of the wicked.

Mary
The Lord has extended mercy from generation to generation,
Lifted up the lowly and filled the hungry with good things.

Psalm 146
We hope in the one who keeps faith forever, 
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry,
Who sets the prisoners free,
Who opens the eyes of the blind,
Who lifts up those who are bowed down,
Who loves the righteous,
Who watches over the strangers with care,
Who upholds the orphans and the widow.

Mary
God has helped his servant Israel,
     remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
     just as he promised our ancestors.

Psalm 146
The Lord reigns forever,
Our God for all generations.
Praise the Lord.  AMEN.