A prayer for Christmas healing during COVID-19

God, giver of all life,

During this season of Christmas, and as we approach a new year, I pray to you for so many people and so many situations. My head tells me that my prayer to you ought to be filled with gratitude and rejoicing during this time but my heart just doesn’t feel that way. What I know, is that you do hear and receive this prayer of my heart; no matter what!

And so God, I pray for the young woman who was the checker at the grocery yesterday. She said it was the first time she wouldn’t be with her family for Christmas and how sad she is about it. I pray for her and for all who are separated from their loved ones during this time.

I pray for the friend who phone me last week to tell me her husband died. And so, I pray for all who mourn the loss of a loved one, especially as they face this Christmas holiday.

I pray, O God, for the health care worker interviewed on last night’s news who, through tears expressed his weariness and fears for how he and his colleagues can sustain this pace for much longer. I pray for him and for all who are giving everything to help combat this pandemic.

O God, I pray that our country or world, might be healed; healed of all that keeps us from being fully alive and present to you and to one another.

Somewhere God, in my heart’s quiet place, I do give thanks for the birth of Jesus, your Son.

And I pray that we may follow his example of becoming love, mercy and justice.
Please God, give us once again the ability to sing out with “joy to the world because the Lord is come!”

Amen. Amen.