Holy God, this morning, we begin by saying thank you! We thank you for the ways you crash into our world and make room for us in your kingdom. We apologize for the ways that we often fail to make room for you, yet you still chase after us and call us to a better life. With joy, we give you thanks.

In the spirit of joy, today, we specifically thank you for these children, their faith, and the ways they teach us about faith. We thank you for their laughter, their cries, and their stories. We would not live into the sign outside that says all are welcome if we did not welcome the younger ones. So, we welcome them and their bright spirits. May their joy be contagious. May we catch what they have. Remind us to champion our children. Help us to model for them your ways as we partner with you for a better world.

Yet, comforting God, we know that in this season, there are many who have a hard time finding joy. So many people are in need. We lift to you our friends and family members who are suffering from illness, loss, or alienation. We long for them to feel joy, but we know we cannot create it for them. So, we entrust them to your healing mercy and rest in the assurance of your loving presence with them.

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, Holy God, remind us that Christ is the light of the world—a light no darkness can overcome. In a season when shadows feel long, help us to carry your light into every corner of our lives. May we shine with the hope and peace that Christ brings. Empower us to be luminarias in the dark, pointing to the Christ child.

And so, as we head into this final week before Christmas, may your grace sustain us—bring us patience in long lines, strength in tough settings, and the kind of joy that these children modeled for us today. We pray this in Jesus name, who taught us to pray, saying…