God of ancient stories and silent nights, hear our prayers for the preachers this week.

You have called them:
To proclaim the good news that we have been waiting to hear.
To point to the way to the manger.
To announce with the angels that Christ is born.

And so we pray:

For the tired preacher who has been preaching on Christmas Eve for years and is certain that she has nothing new to say
For the new preacher on his first Christmas in the pulpit who wonders if his words will be sufficient
For the joyful preacher who delights in the candlelight
For the grieving preacher who is missing her loved one
For the anxious preacher who worries about making Christmas morning perfect for his own children
For the awestruck preacher who can’t quite believe you have called her to this work.

They will likely be the first ones there and the last to leave. While others go home to family Christmas gatherings, these preachers will make sure the candles were extinguished, the lights turned off, the livestream stopped. They will tend to your church. They will care for your people.

Loosen their shoulders.
Unclench their jaws.
Give them good words.
Reassure them that they are enough, that you are enough, that you are with us.
Emmanuel.

Let them proclaim the good news.
Let them trust the good news.
Let them rejoice.
Let them rest.

God of hope: hear our prayers.
In Christ’s name we pray.
Amen.

The Rev. Dr. Lee Hull Moses is the the Executive Director of the Proclamation Project

You might also find helpful:

• Blue Christmas — a worship service guide for honoring grief and loss during the holiday season
• Asking Our Way Through Advent — a reflection on holding questions and wonder at the center of Advent preaching
• Recovering the Soul of Preaching Through Rest — on slowing down, paying attention, and renewing the inner life of the preacher