prayer of confession, Christmas 1

Prayer of Confession:
On this the sixth day of Christmas, as another year draws to a close, we come together before God and with one another, confessing,
the ways in which we have been caught up in the frenzied spirit of the holidays, and turned away from Your Spirit of Peace;
the times we have focused so much on our own lives and desires,
that we have neglected the voices of your children who cry out for Justice;
in our desire of making the season perfect,
we have turned away from the hurting people and broken places in our world in need of Healing;
in the times we have dismissed Christmas as a time only for children,
and we have stubbornly closed our hearts to your amazing gift of Love.
O Holy Child of Bethlehem, Word Become Flesh, our Savior and King, hear us as we humbly pray,
Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon:
Hear the good news of Christmas. Today God reveals to us the wonders of divine love.
For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given.
His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.