Lord Jesus Christ, 

Thou Son of the Most High, Prince of Peace, 

    be born into our world.  

Wherever there is war in this world, 

    wherever there is pain, 

    wherever there is loneliness, 

    wherever there is no hope, 

come, thou long-expected one, 

    with healing in thy wings.

 

Holy Child, 

whom the shepherds and the kings and the dumb beasts adored,

    be born again.  

Wherever there is boredom,

    wherever there is fear of failure,

    wherever there is temptation too strong to resist,

    wherever there is bitterness of heart, 

come, though blessed one,

    with healing in thy wings.

 

Frederick Buechner, 1926 – , American writer and theologian

 

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Thus says God, the Lord,
    who created the heavens and stretched them out,
    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
    and spirit to those who walk in it:
“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
    I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
    a light for the nations,

 to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
    from the prison those who sit in darkness.