A CHRISTMAS LITANY [T, 12-12-23]

CHRIST IN WINTER: Reflections on Faith & Life for the Years of Winter—A CHRISTMAS LITANY [T, 12-12-23]

 

[I apologize for the absent photo just above. It was a picture of the 1944 Book of Worship. I don't know why it didn't print.] Now it's W, 12-13, and, as you can see in the Comments--unless you can't see Comments--Katie says she can see the picture. So I've gotten this site up again for myself, and sure enough, there it is. Gmail has saved Christmas!]

I appreciate contemporary versions of the Bible and worship books. Sometimes, though, especially at a time like Christmas, the old “stilted” language is so long forgotten that it brings new meanings via the old words. So it is, I think, with this Christmas Litany from the 1944 Methodist Book of Worship for Church and Home, a book that Bishop Richard Raines gave to me when I was ordained. I used it in ministry in my early years, and use it still for personal worship.

A CHRISTMAS LITANY

 

Glory to God in the highest.

 

And on earth peace, good will toward men.

 

O God, thou art our salvation; we will trust and not be afraid. Thou art our strength and our song.

 

Therefore with joy we shall draw water out of the wells of salvation.

 

We thank thee for the birth of Jesus, that thy spirit was upon him, that he was anointed to preach good tidings to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those that are bruised.

 

Help us to make the present time the acceptable year of the Lord.

 

O God, enable us as we worship thee to kindle with the joy of simple shepherds long ago at the thought of all that came into the world with the birth of Jeus Christ.

 

Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.

 

Help us, O God, in the light of the shining star to realize the wastes and desolations of the world, to feel the weight of the world’s sorrow and need, to be made aware of the power of evil, to see what spiritual loss is made by man’s hatred and sin.

 

Help us with the spirit of Jesus to build the old wastes and to raise up the former desolations.

 

Forgive us, O God, for our weariness of heart through great conflict and exertion. Suffer us not to become creatures and nations of selfishness, of narrow, foolish pride; marred with hardness of heart, and weakened by fear and suspicion.

 

Grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies may serve thee without fear.

 

Over the face of the ancient earth, weary and torn with strife, the passing generations have come and are gone, and have not seen the triumph of good will among me; yet we give thanks for the unceasing renewal of life born to new hopes and strong to achieve new victories of good.

 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder.

 

In the light of the shining star that giveth happiness to little children and cheer to all, help us to renew for that good time when none shall be far off or forgotten, but shall live within the circle of the blessed life.

 

May the dayspring from on high visit us, to give light to them that sit in darkness, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Amen.

 

John Robert McFarland