We wish a Happy Christmas to all from Growing Old Grace-fully.
This Christmas, we give thanks for the hope born in Bethlehem – the baby Jesus and a light that shines at every stage of life, even if we cannot always see it, when our eyes are turned towards the darkness that too often falls across our troubled world.
Christ’s birth in the stable shows that hope comes from the humblest and most unexpected places. We must always be open to that hope and be prepared to see it and pray that we too will hear the angels and see the star.
As we celebrate the joy of Christ’s coming among us, we honour the wisdom, faith, and love of older people, whose long lives witness to God’s faithfulness through the years.
Jubilee Year coming to an end
This is also the end of the Jubilee Year of ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.
The last major official events of the 2025 Jubilee will be the closing of Rome’s four Holy Doors, accompanied by the solemn closing rites and the celebration of Mass.
The first to close will be the Holy Door of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on December 25th at 6:00 pm.
This will be followed by the Basilica of St. John Lateran on December 27th at 11:00 am.
On December 28th, at 10:00 am, the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls will be closed.
The last Holy Door to close will be that of St. Peter’s Basilica on January 6th at 9:30 am, with a Closure Rite and Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV. The Holy Year officially concludes with the celebrations of the Feast of the Epiphany.
We pray more than ever for hope in these final days of this special Jubilee year.
May the peace of the Christ Child fill your hearts and homes, and may hope, kindness, and grace accompany us all into the year ahead.
Some prayers for Christmas
We thought we knew where to find you;
we hardly needed a start to guide the way,
just perseverance and common sense;
why do you hide yourself away from the powerful
and join the refugees and outcasts,
calling us to follow you there.
Wise God, give us your wisdom
We thought we had laid you safe in a manger;
we wrapped you in the thickest sentiment we could find,
and stressed how long ago you came to us;
why do you break upon us in our daily life
with messages of peace and goodwill
demanding that we do something about it?
Just and righteous God, give us justice and righteousness
So where else would we expect to find you
but in the ordinary places with the faithful people
turning the world to your purpose through them.
Bring us to that manger, to that true rejoicing,
Which will bring wisdom, justice and righteousness alive in us
Stephen Orchard
Based on Luke 2. v1-20
From Janet Morley Bread for Tomorrow
Cradled-Christ Eucharist
God reached out
and
with the lightest
of touch
set the world aflame
with his adoration.
He so loved
each
And every one,
that he gave
his most Beloved Son
In order that we,
that is
you
and me
and all humankind
might be born anew.
Not only on Earth,
but
in Heaven, too,
and cascading
through all Creation,
Is the cradled- Christ Eucharist.
Amen.
Susan Hardwick from Shine on Star of Bethlehem (complied by Geoffrey Duncan)
Prayer for Christmas in later life
Loving God,
as we welcome the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ,
we come before you in these worrying and uncertain times.
In the quiet of the manger, grant us hope;
in the light of Christ, grant us peace;
and in your abiding love, strengthen our trust in you.
We thank you especially for the gift of older people and later life.
For their wisdom, faith, patience, and steadfast love,
for the memories they carry and the hope they continue to offer,
we give you praise.
May they know their dignity, their value, and their cherished place
in your Church and in our families.
As the Christ Child comes among us,
unite young and old in compassion and care,
and help us to walk together with courage and kindness.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
