A Liturgy
Praise be to God, who dwells among us, now and forever.
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we pause to bless this Christmas manger. The practice of putting out mangers like this was begun by Saint Francis of Assisi, who made the crèche, a French word for crib or cradle, (for Jesus, a manger) for Christmas Eve, in 1223, over 800 years ago. When we look at it, we are moved to remember that Jesus came to this earth poor and homeless, having no place to lay his head, except in a feeding box with hay. We are reminded that animals were present at Jesus’ birth in a barn, their home. And we rejoice in the mystery of the coming to earth of the Son of God, fully God and fully human, the only perfect human who ever lived. Listen to the words in the Bible written by Luke:
“While Mary and Joseph, her fiancé, were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth. She wrapped the newborn baby in a swaddling cloth and laid the baby in a manger for there was no room for them in the inn.”
What is a manger? A feeding trough for animals. It is where you put the hay so cows or horses or other animals can reach it and eat it. Why did Mary put Jesus in the manger? Because there was no bed for him, no crib.
Blessing of the Creche is an ancient ceremony, with a response by all.
… we pray to the Lord, Response: Come, Lord Jesus, live among us. Come, Lord Jesus, live within us.
Let us ask for God’s blessing on this Christmas manger and on us, that as we think about Jesus lying in a manger, we may give Jesus a place in our hearts. The innkeeper had no room for him. Do we have room in our hearts? We pray to the Lord:
R. Come, Lord Jesus, live among us. Come, Lord Jesus, live within us.
We pray for all churches in this area, as we think about the birth of Christ, that we may share the love of God coming to earth, homeless and poor, but bringing the best gift ever, God’s peace, joy and love. We pray to the Lord. R.
We pray for the world in which we live, that it may come to recognize Christ who was greeted by the shepherds when they went to Bethlehem, we pray to the Lord. R
For our families and our homes, that Christ who was laid in the manger may dwell with us always, we pray to the Lord. R.
For parents, that their love for their children may be modeled on that of Mary and Joseph, we pray to the Lord. R.
At this time gifts of food and clothing for the less fortunate may be brought and laid in and around the creche.
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Please join hands with those around you.
Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise up our thoughts to Jesus, the Messiah, who is God-with-us, Emmanuel, and Savior of all, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.