Description
A prayer for those who find Christmas a difficult time because they have no family, or little family contact.
(This liturgy can be incorporated into an ordinary act of worship during the pre-Christmas or Christmas season. It could be used with several voices. Parts of it may be omitted, if they seem particularly inappropriate, but do not do this lightly – there may be people present who need to hear expressed something they have never voiced, but that has been a hidden part of their lives.)
Christmas is a family time. A time for the gathering of long-lost relatives and excited children. A time for cards and greetings and to celebrate together.
Or is it?
We recognise at this time those people who find it impossible to be a part of family Christmas festivities.
So, we come –
We who are old and lonely, the last of the family line.
We who are alone unwillingly and have no family contacts.
We who have never been a part of a real family, but have been wandering, we who have been brought up in care, perhaps unable to put down roots in a settled home life.
We who have left the family because of disagreements and have now severed relationships completely.
We who have experienced abuse, or violence from the family that should have offered love.
We who have deliberately done what we wanted to do, regardless of the consequences to the rest of the family and who now feel remorse, but dare not seek forgiveness.
We who have been separated, ...
Continues ...
©Marjorie Dobson
(First published in Nothing Too Religious – Andrew Pratt/Marjorie Dobson – Inspire 2008)