St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Northridge, California.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the miracle of life and the blessing of this moment where we can come together in Your presence.  We search for peace where there is no peace in things that are only of this world.  But You are not of this world.  You are everything.  You are Hope and You are truth.   So step into our lives so that we can go beyond the typical and be transformed from the ordinary into the extraordinary possibilities of God.  The problem is we believe too much with our eyes and not enough with our faith.  Help us this season to look past the Santa’s and the gifts.   Show us how to give what You have given to us: never ending unconditional love, mercy and grace. Help us to see You.  Help us to experience You as never before.   So that the words of the Gospel will be true for us: that we are all made new in Christ because the former self and all of our past mistakes and successes are shed away by the love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.