Thought some might find this useful...

Peter K. Perry
Prescott United Methodist Church
Prescott, Arizona USA
mailto:pkperry@cableone.net
http://www.prescottumc.com

AN AFFIRMATION FOR CHRISTMAS EVE
I believe in Christmas. I believe that God sends light into the dark
corners of our lives. That in then lonely and cold moments, God comes with
a message of good news.

I believe that God’s good news sweeps away all of the world’s bad news like
a broom sweeps away dust. God brings hope in the midst of despair. God
brings healing in the midst of illness. God brings peace in the midst of
strife and solace to the mourning. God brings power to the weak. God
brings companionship to the lonely and family to the forgotten. God brings
justice for the oppressed and liberty for the captive. Most of all, God
brings new life in the midst of death.

I believe in Christmas. I believe that God continues to works in my life
today through this story of Christ’s birth so long ago.

I am a shepherd, startled to hear the good news of the angels, but eager to
go and see for myself. I am Mary, aware that somehow God is using me to
accomplish things too big to imagine. I am Joseph, not understanding fully
that which God calls me to do, but following as faithfully as I can. I am
the innkeeper, busy and frazzled, but making some room, somehow, for God to
be born. I am the Wiseman, on a journey of discovery, bearing my gift to be
given to glorify God. And yes, I am the angel, proclaiming in my own life,
the glorious good news that God has come into the world and we shall never
be the same. I believe in Christmas and with my life, today and throughout
the year to come, I will proclaim that Christ is born, that Christmas is
here, that God is with us! Amen.