God of grace,
together we turn to you in prayer, for it is you who unite us:
you are the one God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - in whom we believe,
you alone empower us for good,
you send us out across the earth in mission and service in the name of Christ.
Open our hearts to love and to see that all people are made in your image,
to care for creation and affirm life in all its wondrous diversity.
Transform us in the offering of ourselves so that we may be your partners in transformation
to strive for the full, visible unity of the one Church of Jesus Christ,
to become neighbours to all,
as we await with eager longing the full revelation of your rule
in the coming of a new heaven and a new earth.
God, in your grace, transform the world. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
Amen.
Just a bit ago I returned from The Grotto where the Parkrose Community United Church of Christ Chancel Choir and Children's Choir performed at the Festival of Lights. This was the 19th year that our choir has held this concert the night before Christmas Eve. Celebrating the birth of Christ should be a time when Christians the world over unite in common cause and so it was a delight for me that our UCC choir performed in a Roman Catholic community.
Tomorrow is, of course, Christmas Eve. At Parkrose Community United Church of Christ we will be holding two services: our traditional 10 am Sunday worship with a special musical presentation from our choir and a 7 pm candlelight service with Holy Communion. All are welcome. If you're reading this from outside Portland and are looking for a congregation to worship with click here for a list of local UCC churches.
