"Light arises in the darkness for the upright,
gracious, compassionate, and just,
who are in right standing with God."
Psalm 112:4
An illustration by Mary Englebreit
Hanukkah Prayer
With grateful hearts we remember Your protection,
when tyrants sought to destroy Your people
and to uproot the religion of Israel.
We take pride in the valor of the Maccabees,
their faith in You, and their devotion to Your Law
that inspired them to deeds of heroism.
We commemorate the rededication of Your sanctuary,
the consecration of its altar to Your worship, and
we celebrate the rekindling of the eternal light whose
rays shone forth out of the encircling darkness as
a symbol of Your presence and the beacon of light
of Your truth for all the world.
Be with us now, with us and our children.
Make us strong to do Your will.
Help us to understand and proclaim the truth:
that not by might and not by power but by
Your spirit alone can we prevail.
Grant to each person and every nation the
blessings of liberty, justice, and peace.
Let injustice and oppression cease,
and hatred, cruelty, and wrong
pass away so that all human beings
may unite to worship You in
love and devotion.
Bless, O Lord, the Hanukkah lights,
that they may shed their radiance into
our homes and our lives.
May they kindle within us the flame
of faith and zeal,
that like the Maccabees of old,
we may battle bravely for Your cause.
Then shall we be worthy of Your love
and Your blessing, O Lord,
our Shield and Protector.
Amen.
Chag Urim Sameakh
Antique Brass Menorah
(c.1920)
"Hanukkah Prayer"
New Union Prayer Book
No comments:
Post a Comment