A Gospel of Immanuel

You know

When I am laughing,

I know that you laugh too.

When I am crying,

The tears that you cry comfort me.

When I am upset,

I know that you, too, feel hurt.

Thank you, Jesus.

When I’m feeling lonely,

I know that you knew loneliness too.

When my friends don’t support me,

I know that your friends treated you the same.

When life is fun,

I know that you enjoyed life too.

Thank you, Jesus.

When I’m feeling tired,

I know that you needed sleep like me.

When I’m feeling weak,

I know that you had to deal with tough things.

When I’m needing love,

I know that you will always hold me tight.

Thank You, Jesus

Come home with me

Come to my home Jesus, come through my door.

See my house, my home – the place I live;

You’re welcome here.

Sit with me when I eat or watch TV;

Watch me as I get along, and fall out, with my family.

You’re welcome here.

Come to my home Jesus, come through my door.

Help me to be kind to my family,

And to welcome my friends

Come to my home Jesus, come through my door.

Spend time with me, and I with you.

Help me to love you more.

Like me

It’s kind of hard to understand

That you were once like me.

Small and needing care -

Flesh and bones and “sticky-up” hair.

It’s kind of hard to really know

That you were once a boy.

You learned to live and love and play

And lived your life, day by day.

It’s kind of hard to understand

The things you did and said.

Making people better, showing them how to live.

Showing them the Father by all you had to give.

It’s kind of hard to really know

Why you had to die.

To have the people turn aside

When, for each and every one, you died.

It’s kind of hard to know you’re here

Beside me every day.

That where I am and who I’ll see

You’ll always walk along with me.

With us

Immanuel, God with us –

That’s who you are.

You smiled,

You cried,

You told stories,

You stood up for what was right

Whatever the cost.

You challenged,

As you still challenge today.

You loved,

You reached out to those in need,

And still reach out today.

You forgave and forgive –

Every day.

Jesus, thank you that you are with us.

A Gospel of parousia

Born for me

Jesus, born in a dirty stable.

Noisy, smelly -

Animals standing by.

Jesus, born in a dirty stable.

Child of Mary,

Child of Joseph,

Child of God.

Jesus, born in a dirty stable.

Loved by mum,

Loved by dad,

Loved by God.

Jesus, born in a dirty stable.

Feared by Kings,

Feared by leaders,

Chosen by God.

Jesus, born in a dirty stable.

Noises all around,

But bringing peace for the world.

Jesus, born in a dirty stable.

For all,

For you,

For me.

Waiting…

Waiting for Christmas,

Trees, lights and decorations.

Oh, why won’t it come now!

Waiting for Christmas,

Parties, presents and friends.

Oh, why won’t it come now!

Waiting for Christmas,

Food, family and fun.

Oh, why won’t it come now!

Waiting for Christmas,

For love and for Jesus.

Oh, wait - he’s here now!

  

Thank You, Jesus

You came as a baby,

Thank You, Jesus.

You lived as a boy,

Thank You, Jesus.

You worked as a man,

Thank You, Jesus.

You died as my King,

Thank You, Jesus.

You are now my friend,

Thank You, Jesus

You will come again,

Thank You, Jesus

Still waiting…

The whole world was waiting -

Back then, in the past.

A new King was coming,

A new King, at last.

The whole world was waiting –

They thought that they knew

What the new King would look like,

And what he would do.

The whole world was waiting –

But they didn’t quite see

The new baby Jesus

And what he would be.

The world is still waiting –

But, let’s hope that we’ll see

That the man who is Jesus

Loves you and loves me. 

A Gospel of justice

Grateful for what I have.

That's not fair!

I want....

I Want...

I WANT...

Are words

I sometimes think or say.

But when I stop awhile

Or take the time to pray,

I know that's not the case at all.

It might be tough,

It might be hard

But it's really not unfair.

And want and need are not the same;

There are so many things I have.

So, thank you God for what I have

And all the things I do.

Help me to share, to give, to love,

And always say “thanks” to you.

There are some…

I see the news,

I hear the news,

I even look at the newspaper,

Sometimes.

But I don’t really understand

What is going on.

There are some that have

And some that don’t.

There are some that have time to learn

And some that have to work.

There are some who are loved

And some who are shown no care.

There are some that live in peace

And some who know nothing but war.

There are some that live

And some that die.

Dear God

Who knows and sees and cares for all;

May those that have nothing have some.

May those that have had no time to learn be taught.

May those who are lonely know love.

May those at war experience peace.

May those who live in fear of death see life.

Amen.

Prayer for Fair Trade

God who made the world –

Beautiful things to see,

Wonderful things to do,

Interesting place to go,

And such tasty things to eat.

God who made the world –

With more than enough to share,

With beauty for all to see,

Work for all to do,

And space for all to live.

Help us to not be greedy.

God who made the world –

We thank you for the skills people have;

Farming,

Fishing,

Making,

Mending.

God who made the world –

Thank you for those who care for others

Who are not given what they deserve

For all they grow,

Or catch,

Or make, or mend.

Help me to do all I can to make sure that their life is fair.

Micah 6:8

Father God, you made us all like you.

We are all part of your family.

So it’s not fair that some of us have so much and some so little or nothing at all.

Please open our hearts to being fair for all.

Give us the strength and courage

To be fair, kind and think of others ahead of ourselves.

Amen.

You love us all the same

Thank you that wherever we are

You love us all the same.

Thank you that whatever we have

You love us all the same.

Thank you that whatever we do

You love us all the same.

Thank you that wherever we go

You love us all the same.

Thank you that however we look

You love us all the same.

Thank you simply that

You love us all the same.

A Gospel of courage

When things are tough.

When things are new

Or I'm not sure what to do;

When the choice is tough,

Or life seems rough.

Help me stand up

Tall and strong.

Help me to know

That I belong

To you, my friend,

Who holds my hand

And keeps me safe

And walks with me

Whatever.

When it’s right to say “Yes”.

When I know it's the right thing to do

Help me to say "yes".

When I know it's what you would do

Help me to say "yes".

When I know it's the right thing to say

Help me to say "yes".

When people ask me if You're my friend

Help me to say "yes".

When people ask me to tell them about You

Help me to say "yes".

When I have the chance to help

Help me to say "yes".

Give me the courage to be like You.

When it’s right to say “No”.

When I know that there are things that I shouldn't do

Help me to say "no".

When I know that there are things that I shouldn't say

Help me to say "no".

When I know that there are things that I shouldn't think

Help me to say "no".

When I know that there are places that I shouldn't go

Help me to say "no".

Give me the courage to be like You.

  When I’m really not sure.

Dear God,

You see everything,

You know everything,

Help me to believe that you are everything.

Dear God,

There’s so much that I don’t see,

So much that I don’t know,

So much that I don’t understand.

Help me to be happy that I don’t need to because you do.

Dear God,

There’s so much going on around me;

In my home, in my town, in my country and in my world.

Sometimes it makes no sense,

Sometimes I really don’t like it,

Sometimes I’m a little bit scared.

Help me to know that it’s your world and that you can make sense of it all.

Being strong!

Jesus,

Make me strong!

Jesus,

Make me sure!

Jesus,

Help me love!

Jesus,

Help me shine!

Jesus

Be mine!

A Gospel of wisdom

When I wake up

Thank you God for a good night’s sleep (or not as the case may be!).

Thank you for all the things that I will learn throughout the day.

Thank you that you love me and want to spend the day with me.

There are many things that I’ll hear today

That will make no sense to me.

There are many things that I’ll see today

That shouldn’t be that way.

There are many things that I’ll do today

That I’ll wish I hadn’t done.

Dear God of sense

And order

And truth,

Help me to listen to You,

Help me to look to You,

Help me to act like You.

May today be a day

Of learning

And encouragement

And exciting new discoveries.

 During my day

Half my day has sped along

I’ve had so much to do;

There have been things to play

And words to say

And things to watch and learn.

Some has been good and fun for me

And some has been hard work.

But all has helped me grow some more

To learn what life’s about.

As I stop to eat

And, maybe, rest awhile

Help me to think of You.

To think of who you are to me

Of all the things you’ve done.

That I might look some more to You,

To show me how to be.

That others, when they look at me,

It’s some of You they’ll see.

  

When I’m going to bed

I’m feeling tired and going to bed

It’s been a “full-on” day.

I’ve played,

I’ve learned,

I’ve seen so much,

It’s been a lot of fun.

I’ve listened,

I’ve talked,

I’ve been with friends,

And such a lot I’ve done.

As I slow down

And get ready to sleep,

I wish I could carry on.

There’s more to learn

And play

And do;

Come on tomorrow, come on!

A Gospel for koinonia

When I wake up

Thank you God for a good night’s sleep (or not as the case may be!).

Thank you for all the people who I will meet throughout the day.

Thank you that you love me and want to spend the day with me.

For my breakfast,

Thank you God.

For my family,

Thank you God.

For my friends,

Thank you God.

For the help they give,

Thank you God.

For the things that they will show me and teach me,

Thank you God.

That I can help them too,

Thank you God.

You made the world and all I have;

You love me whatever I do.

I’m sorry for when I’ll forget you’re there,

When I’ll do things wrong or upset my friends.

Help me today to be a friend to others;

To those I like,

And this I don’t.

Help me today to give as well as receive,

And to help as much as I am helped.

Thank you that you help make the hard things easier to do.

During my day

Thank you God for my morning;

For all I’ve done and seen and had,

For where I’ve been and those I’ve seen.

Thank you for time to have fun.

Thank you for time to learn.

Thank you for time to rest.

Jesus, help me to know you with me.

Jesus, help me to know you in me.

Jesus, help me to see you in those around me.

That we may share you together.

Jesus, help me to think the right things.

Jesus, help me to say the right things.

Jesus, help me to do the right things.

That people might see some of you in me.

God of togetherness,

God of sharing,

God of friendship,

God of my world.

May your ways be mine.

When I’m going to bed

God, in all your world,

May your love be known.

God, for all my friends,

May your love be known.

God, where there is upset,

May your love be known.

God, where there is loneliness,

May your love be known.

God, for all who sleep,

May your love be known.

Thank you for the people who have shared my day -

Their time, their love, their play.

Thank you that although this day is done

There will be many more to come!

Be with my family,

Be with my friends

And keep them safe

And give them rest

And give them peace tonight.