For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Dear Father in Heaven,
We thank you for sending us your Son Jesus, Emmanuel, our God with us, to be born and live amongst us. What love you have shown us. We cannot fathom how the co-creator and ruler of the universe could humble himself to be born to a poor peasant girl in a small village and to suffer the humiliation and pain of the cross for our sake.
Lord Jesus, you lived a human life with all its joys and sorrows and temptations, mostly in obscurity in Nazareth, but you revealed your divine nature when your ministry began. The disciples learned from your unparalleled wisdom, witnessed your miracles, enjoyed your fellowship and love and after your resurrection came to have peace and purpose to their lives like never before. You are indeed the author of all wisdom, our all powerful King for whom nothing is impossible, you are our loving eternal Father who will not let us go, and the bringer of peace to our souls. For this gift of love, mercy and peace we give you thanks this Christmas season and every day of our lives.
AMEN