Celebrating G-o-d, with another Christmas,
we celebrate the gift of life itself
and the gift of every resource that enhances life.

Above all, we thank you for the life and spirit
of Jesus of Nazareth,
for leading us to put our hope and trust
in the spirit of life and love moving in the depths of our being.

May we too be creators of a better world.
May we find a good purpose and satisfaction 
in the life that we are given.
May we leave behind us a trail of encouragement and hope.
(Silence)

And when we leave this place this day
let us not forget the spirit of Christmas.
Let us keep it in our hearts.
The spirit of compassion.
The gift of tenderness and love...
Let us keep these with us always.
(Silence)

We who are capable of both good and evil,
of compassion and of indifference,
let us treat one another in ways that beg to be remembered,
rather than forgiven.

For there is a spirit that wants to be born within us, and it needs our help.
The spirit of simple and direct care for one another wants to be born.
The better angels of our nature want to be heard.

And so let us not forget the spirit of Christmas.
Let us keep it in our hearts.
The spirit of compassion.
The gifts of tenderness and love.

Let us keep these with us.
Today.
Tomorrow.
Always.

This is our prayer.
Amen.