We pray that your Christmas may truly be “Christ’s mass”, at least in the sense of “mass” meaning “dismiss”. May this Christmas be one in which, through the presence of Christ in our lives, we dismiss those impediments that hold us back from from giving life, from enhancing the lives of those around us, those we meet by “chance”. May we dismiss those inhibitions that thwart our desire to wipe away tears, express our pain, and share our food.

A Prayer for 2006

Lead us from death to life,

from falsehood to truth.

Lead us from despair to hope,

from fear to trust.

Lead us from hate to love,

from war to peace.

Let peace fill

our hearts,

our world,

our universe.

Let us dream together,

pray together,

work together,

play together,

to build one world

of peace and justice

for all.

This prayer, a traditional prayer from India,

invites us to participate in a pilgrimage towards understanding.

Neil and Margaret