“God, not all of us can be with those we love at Christmas. Some of us are alone, and we bear a heavy sadness. Life isn’t supposed to be like this; and we feel loneliness most at the holidays.

Jesus, you came to give us a full and complete life. That includes a life full of healthy and meaningful relationships. You also came to be ‘with us’ yourself, and to begin our adventure with healthy relationships by giving us relationship with you. Immanuel is your name – it means ‘God with us.’ Tonight more than any other we need you with us. When we are alone, we are most certainly not alone. Show this to us tonight. Comfort us in our solitude and silence. Say something we can hear, as clearly as the voices of those we love. You are down to earth; be down to earth for us.

‘Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…’

Yes, we will celebrate Christmas with you, God, here and now, and as real and present as you were those many years ago in Bethlehem. Come to our dusty solitary stall; we have room here!”