the Word became flesh

Christmas Blessing with John 1:1–14 

Word at the beginning,

Word without end;

Light in the darkness,

Light that God sent; 

born among us long ago,

born again, anew, now! 

This Jesus is born in you,

today/tonight, new life again and always: 

may his light guide your way,

beginnings, new beginnings, 

to the end. Amen. 

Be the kin-dom

Rev 1:4b–8 

Grace to you, and peace to you,

from the One who is and was

and is to come; from Christ

who lived and died and lived

again; from Beginning and End

and all between. 

Take that grace, take that peace,

be the kin-dom Christ called us

to be; the priesthood of the faithful,

the family of God; and so may

all eyes see our freedom 

and wonder – and wonder! 

Amen. 

a disciple's prayer

Mark 10:17–31 

look at me with love,

Jesus, tell me I am home 

look at me with love,

Jesus, tell me I am known 

I have kept God's Way,

Jesus, faithful all my life

I would follow you, Jesus,

if you would tell me how

must I give it up? 

Jesus, this is hard – 

harder than imagined,

Jesus, more than I can bear 

I will follow you, Jesus,

leave it all behind – 

the wealth, the home,

the people even – all, yes, all 

but Jesus, this is hard,

please meet me with your love

look at me with love, that

I may love with you 

help me love your Way,

Jesus, your people as my kin

help me give my all,

Jesus, all in love for you 

Who is Messiah?

Mark 8:27–38 

failed saviour

rejected hope

source of shame: 

who is Messiah? 

Jesus, we say you are 

peaceful resister 

upturned expectation 

life beyond death

who is Messiah? 

Jesus, we say you are 

with our praise

with our confession

with our prayer

for one another

Jesus, we say 

you are our Messiah! 

The rhythm of our days

Mark 6:30–34, 53–56

May the rhythm of our days

include gathering together to share

all we have done, who we have met; 

include a coming away to a deserted

place alone, to rest awhile, be fed; 

include compassion, open eyes

and open hearts to those whose need 

we can meet, today; 

include courage for crossing stormy

seas, wisdom to recognise the Sacred,

patience as we learn how to follow;

include mooring our boat in new places,

meeting strangers with peace that heals. 

May the rhythm of our days

resemble yours, Jesus our guide

to life, and may we know, ourselves, the peace 

with which you call us to meet each other. 

Amen. 

Where welcome is found

prayers with Mark 6:1–13 

1. Confession 
Not welcome back home

unheeded, disrespected,

rejected, at home, where 

kin and neighbour knew him 

best, they knew him least 

when he became most

fully the Son of God, 

Son of Humanity, promised. 

Forgive our disrespect, our

lack of welcome and hearing

for our kin and neighbours

returning home to be

rejected, unexpected 

in their fullest becoming: 

forgive us, Holy One. 

2. Assurance of forgiveness 

Amazed at the disbelief

of kin and neighbour turned

strangers, Jesus yet

healed a few. 

Jesus does not reject 

the few who yet seek

his touch, his grace,

his healing – so turn

and shed that disbelief,

for faithfulness and trust: 

we are forgiven, and we 

thank you, Holy One. 

3. Intercession 

Into villages and homes

of closed-mindedness,

where messages of hope 

go unheeded, offers of peace

unwelcome, Holy One, 

bring your love. 

Into villages and homes

of open minds, 

where new ideas delight,

stories evoke wonder, and peace

is nurtured, Holy One,

we see your love. 

Into villages and homes

of disrespect and rejection,

where returning kin

go disbelieved, their fulness

unwelcome, Holy One, 

bring your love. 

Into villages and homes

of courageous embrace, 

where change evokes wonder, 

fulness of being is nurtured,

and all are welcome, Holy One,

we see your love. 

In all the village and homes,

towns and cities, farms

and camps, where hope

is rare and peace so 

keenly needed, Holy One,

may we be your love. 

4. Commissioning 

Take nothing: 

no bread, no bag,

no money in your belt,

no extra tunic for the cold. 

Have sandals for your feet,

a staff for support

as you walk,

two by two,

seeking welcome. 

Take everything 

I have taught you,

food and water for

yearning souls, love

for broken spirits: 

restore, revive,

reconcile wherever you

are welcome. 

Take nothing: 

no offence, no sorrow,

no anger or resentment;

leave the dust

at doors unopened,

at the feet 

of the unwilling,

when you meet not

welcome. 

Take everything

I will give you: 

love that heals,

wisdom that guides

a flourishing life, 

peace that transcends

understanding. Take

and share abundantly

my welcome, God's 

welcome, home. 

Testify

John 15:26–27 

Advocate

Spirit

Breath

Friend

sent by

Jesus

Wisdom

Christ

Word 

from the 

Father

Mother

Maker

Creator 

Bear witness

Bear witness

Bear witness to Holy One. 

Amen. 

Our living, growing, church

Acts 1:15–17, 21–26 

We pray for the church,

living, growing, changing. 

We give thanks for our leaders,

past and present and emerging. 

May those who are concluding 

roles and terms and responsibilities

among us do so with peace

for all that they will not do,

and gratitude for all that they have given. 

May we show grace to those

who have gone before,

listen for their wisdom,

honour their contribution,

even as we make the job our own. 

May those who discern a new season

of service, contribution, giving,

in new roles, terms, responsibilities

among us, do so with courage

for the challenges ahead,

and hope for the life they will nurture. 

May we support and encourage

our leaders, through presence

and prayer, listening, trusting,

participating in the life our our 

community with all we each can give. 

We pray for our church,

living, growing, changing,

as it has done always,

with You. 

Amen. 

Shine the light

2 Corinthians 4:3–6 

God says let light shine

out of darkness – take, then,

the light God has shone

into your hearts and shine

with that light, that hope, that love. 

And may the Light guide you,

keep you, and inspire you, 

that Light of God, Holy One, Holy Three. 

Amen. 

meeting: love

 

1 Corinthians 9:16–23 

As you go to live out the gospel,

may you meet people where they are,

listen so as to understand,

speak so as to be understood,

sharing, above all, in the language 

of peace and love. 

May the Creator inspire you,

the Spirit encourage you,

and Wisdom-Jesus be there before you. 

Amen. 

Act for their good

1 Corinthians 8:1–13 

Go into the world to love,

building each other up,

by choosing to act for their good,

which is, after all, for yours also. 

May God be your ground of being,

Source of Life, Source of Wisdom,

Source of Love. Amen. 

Tell the story of light!

 

Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11 

Advent 3: Joy 

Give thanks for the Spirit of Holy One,

who welcomes us and sends us,

to tell the Story of Light

for those in darkness;

to seek healing with the brokenhearted;

to work for freedom for others

with the freedom we enjoy;

to loose the ties that bind

those who are captive in so many ways. 

We are welcomed and we are sent

to bring comfort to those who mourn,

the comfort of Holy One who

exchanges garlands for ashes,

pours out the oil of gladness

when mourning is done,

lifts us up to promise

when our hearts would faint. 

Give thanks, for we will be

great Gums and Kauri trees 

planted to grow tall and reflect

the splendour of Holy One! 

Give thanks, for the ruin

and devastation may be restored,

through the healing Spirit of Holy One! 

Give thanks by loving justice 

as Holy One loves justice;

through faithfulness and loyalty

found in Holy One; 

and teach those who come after you,

so we are known, generation

after generation, People of Holy One. 

Rejoice in Holy One,

with all your being,

clothed in justice

and loving kindness – jewels

most precious indeed! 

The earth brings forth green shoots,

even after ravaging fire;

the rain waters the seeds we sow,

even after crippling drought. 

Give thanks, people of Holy One,

and in your worship and your living,

tell the Story of light

after the dark. 

Amen.

like a thief in the night

 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 

in darkest hours, close

folding in to self – safe: 

now, he draws you out! 

What really is

1 Thessalonians 2:9–13 

Holy One, Holy Three,
help us to listen

and hear from each other

your voice, your word 

of love; help us 

to speak so that others

may hear from us your

voice, your word of love. 

Amen. 

for what we may be remembered

1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 

Dear Holy One,

as Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy wrote

with thanksgiving and joy

to the church in Thessalonica 

so long ago, 

we write in hope for ourselves: 

May we be a people 

mentioned in the prayers of others,

remembered before you

as faithful, loving, steadfast

in hope in Jesus the Christ; 

may we be siblings known

to our kin in Christ as 

beloved of Holy One, showing

in our way of being that we have chosen

to follow You, through what kind

of people we prove to be. 

May we be imitators of Christ

and the faithful saints gone before; 

courageous under attack and temptation,

inspired by the Holy Spirit,

and example to other members

of your Body – may our 

commitment to You be known 

by all, our welcome of all,

our resistance to this world's idols,

our love for Christ who rescues – 

Dear Jesus the Christ,

may we be a people

worthy of your name. 

Amen. 

More like my teacher

Matthew 10:24–39 

Jesus, bid me lose my life
so I may find more life with you.

Jesus, bid me stand my ground,
so I stand for peace with you.

Jesus, bid me claim your Way,
so I may enter your kin-dom now.

Jesus bid me risk my life,
so I may gain a life worth living.

Jesus, whisper life to me,
that I may shout it with my being.

Jesus, meet me in the dark,
and in the light I'll speak with freedom.

Jesus, make me more like you:
whisper, linger, bid me come to life!

live well, in love and peace!

a benediction – 2 Corinthians 13:11–13 

After all, my siblings, rejoice!
Hear our teaching and exhortations,
live well,  live in peace,
encourage one another.

Holy One who is love and peace
is with you – embrace
one another in love.

Grace, as with Wisdom,
love, from our Parent,
and kinship, in the Spirit,
be with and between you all. Amen.

Fly to us Spirit Holy

Acts 2:1–21 

Fill our rooms with sound,

with wind, with rushing; 

bowl us over, unsettle us,

ruffle us with your feathered

wings, Spirit Holy, Spirit Breath. 

Float your fire above us, 

dance your flames, radiate

your heat, delight us, 

ignite us with your flickering

tongues, Spirit Holy, Spirit Fire. 

Flit on our voices with words

that others will understand,

speak in us, sing through us, 

vocalise your force 

of life, Spirit Holy, Spirit Friend. 

Set apart for the Story

Romans 1:1–7 

We are called,

set apart,

to serve the Story of hope,

embodied by Jesus the Christ,

son of Holy One, Holy Three,

incarnate in humanity,

living, dying, returning to life,

in dedication to the Way of Love.

Grace to you, and peace,

in the name of Holy One,

Creator, Christ, Spirit. 

Amen. 

worth the wait

James 5:7–10 

The Liberator comes, beloved,
be patient as we wait.
As the farmers wait, and wait,
for the rain that comes, in time,
so we are patient as we wait.

We strengthen our hearts as we wait,
we practice compassion and kindness
for each other and ourselves.
As prophets watched and saw the signs,
so we keep watch, and wait.

The Liberator comes, the prophets tell us,
the Story tells us, be patient –
liberation is worth the wait!