God.

I know. The date is probably wrong.
And we know that you are timeless.
And we don’t want to be disrespectful.

But, “Happy birthday.”

Or, as I say to those I care about, “I’m glad you were born.”

Because, we are glad.

Honestly, we’d be more glad if we weren’t in the hospital on Christmas day. We’d be more glad if we were all well, if we were all safe, if we were all with food, if we all and each knew we were loved.

But in our best moments, and sometimes our worst, you remind us that Immanuel means that you are God and are with us.

In our worst moments, and sometimes our best,you remind us that the Good News to Joseph was that you’d be called Jesus because you would save your people from their sins.

Today, in this place, remind us that you are with us.

Today, in the place, remind us that you are saving us from the tension and division of our sins.

Today, in this place, remind us of you.

We ask these things because you said we could, through Christ our Lord.

Amen.