Streams of Mercy
In a recent edition of Presbyterian’s today, I came across an article on a special service - the “Blue Christmas Service.” It’s a service about coping with the holiday blues, acknowledging the loneliness, grief and depression that is the experience of many during the Advent- Christmas season. A special prayer is offered: “God of mercy, hear our prayer in this Advent season for ourselves, and for our families and friends who live with the struggles of illness and the pain of loss. We ask for strength for today, courage for tomorrow, and peace for the past. We ask these things in the name of Christ, who shares our life in joy and sorrow, death and new birth, despair and promise. Amen.”
Intercession is made for healing: “The God of strength moves within us; the God of courage hears our distress. The God of hope reveals wholeness to us; the God of healing touches us when we are broken. When the pain overwhelms us, when the burden it too heavy; we turn to our God, who is sustaining and redeeming. When there is loneliness, when there is isolation; we turn to our God, who is loving and present. For God created us, redeemed us and sustains us, and we are not alone. Lead us in your ways, O God, and bring us your healing touch.”
In my former congregations, we had a Service of Healing and Wholeness the Saturday evening before Christmas, to address such feelings and to share the warmth of Christian community and the comfort of healing grace.
“Not Celebrate?” a poem by Ann Weems, speaks to such feelings as well:
“Not celebrate? Your burden is too great to bear?
Your loneliness is intensified during this Christmas season?
Your tears seems to have no end?
Not celebrate? You should lead the celebration!
You should run through the streets to ring the bells and sing the loudest!
You should fling the tinsel on the tree, and open your house to your neighbors, and call them in to dance!
For it is you above all others who know the joy of Advent.
It is unto you that a Savior is born this day.
One who comes to lift your burden from your shoulders,
One who comes to wipe the tears from your eyes.
You are not alone, for He is born this day to you.”
May we share the “tidings of comfort and joy” of this holy season, ever giving thanks for those streams of mercy, never ceasing.
Elizabeth