There are many traditions in the Christian cultures of the world for celebrating the night before Christmas. We have different foods and different rituals. Some of us stay up until midnight and go to Midnight Mass. Some of us exchange gifts in the evening, while others of us keep the anticipation going until morning. For some of us, we mix the religious and secular themes, preparing for Santa or Father Christmas' coming as well as Jesus' birth.

For some of us our house is filled with family and visitors. Some of us traveled to be with family or friends this night. Some of us are alone and happy, peaceful, content to have this precious time to ourselves. Others of us are alone and missing loved ones.

For all of us, it is important to take a few moments to reflect upon the meaning of this night and to speak with our God, friend to friend. Our focus is the Christmas mystery - a human story that speaks to us of Divine Love.

In the midst of all we are doing, all our preparation, all our hospitality, let us pray - privately, in these or similar words, or with our whole family.

We praise and thank you, tonight, Most Loving God.

At the appointed time, after all your careful preparation,
you fulfilled your plan to become one of us.
A young woman accepted her role as your servant.
A carpenter accepted his role to be a father on earth.

And, a child was born for us. A Son is given to us.
This night, our gloom and tears are taken away.
This night, the angels sing.
Peace on earth. Peace in every human heart.
Peace that all will see.

In a barn,
a child is born and the angels sing.
In simplicity, in lowliness,
you speak the most profound expression of your love for us,
your oneness with our lives.
Totally other before Creation began,
you have become totally with us.

Tonight we come together to give you thanks.
We gather to let your Son be born again, for us.
We open our hearts to his coming among us tonight.
So we might be at peace and share our peace with one another.

This night your Holy Spirit gathers us together to give you praise
for you have conquered all that discourages us, defeats us, divides us.
This child, who walked our life's path and taught us how to love,
gave himself into our hands to face even an unjust death --
to give himself to us as food, as nourishment for our facing every death,
so we can give ourselves to every degree of love.

Now in prayer before you, let us be like the shepherds
who hastened to see that what was promised is real.
Let us together come and adore him,
the Child, the Christ, our Lord.
And let us share our joy and gratitude this night,
by your grace, filled with the gift of his gracious mercy.

We ask this in his holy name,
blessed by your ever-present Spirit.

Amen