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A PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS DAY – Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church Almighty and everlasting God, we praise You with thanksgiving on this holy day, for You have kept Your ancient promise and have given us Your only begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary, to be our Saviour, our Brother, and our everlasting Light. We marvel that You have come to us in such lowliness— not with terror or majesty, but in the weakness of a newborn Child, laid in a manger, wrapped in swaddling cloths, that no sinner might be afraid to draw near. Grant that we may learn from this holy birth to cast away all pride and to cling to Your mercy alone. As the angels proclaimed “Fear not,” drive from our hearts all dread of sin, death, and the devil. Let the good news of great joy echo in our souls as it did in the fields of Bethlehem, that we may join the heavenly host in praising You for Your boundless grace. As the shepherds hastened to see the Child, so move us by Your Spirit to seek Christ where He has promised to be— in His Word, in His holy Sacraments, and in the fellowship of His Church. Give us steadfast faith to treasure all these things in our hearts, as Mary pondered the mystery of Your love. Let the light of Christ’s coming scatter the darkness of our sin and renew in us the joy of salvation. Teach us to bear His humility in our lives, to serve our neighbors in love, and to confess His holy name without fear. And as this Child once came in great humility, so keep us watchful for His coming again in glory. Strengthen us in every good work, comfort us in every sorrow, and preserve us in true Christian faith until we behold Him face to face. Through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.