"Kua whiti mai Te Karaiti, te marama o te ao, hei whakangaro i te pouri. Me tahuri tatau ki te marama"
"Christ the light of the world has come to dispel the darkness. Let us turn to the light"
Whanau near and far are invited to join us in prayer this Christmas - to thank God for the many blessings upon us and our whanau and to pray for those who are denied the fullness of life, especially over the holiday season.
This Christmas we give thanks for the faithful leadership of the Bishop of Te Tairawhiti, Archbishop Paraone Turei, and pray for his good health and we give thanks for the ministry and service of minita and whanau across Te Tairawhiti and pray for the continued love, strength and wisdom to share the amazing love of God in our communities - always by action, and with words if necessary.
Kia inoi tatau / Let us pray:
E Ihowa,
i tenei wa tapu o te Kirihimete,
o te inoi me te waiata,
ka whakamoemititia koe
mo au homaitanga whakamiharo katoa:
mo te tohutohu o nga whetu,
mo nga waiata a nga anahera,
mo te tangi a te pepi i ro whare mahaki.
Ka tuku whakawhetai ki a koe,
mo te whakawhenuatanga o te rangi
roto i the pepi nohinohi.
He tamariki nau matau katoa,
Meinga matau kia tautoko te kahakore,
kia wawao te waewae tapu,
kia pohiritia te manene,
kia tukuna te mau-a-here,
kia whakaorangia te turoro,
kia whakatikaia ta te tukino,
kia aroha ki te pani
me te rawakore,
kia tiakina to kapuatanga,
kia tiaho mai te marama o Te Karaiti ki te ao.
Ka tuponotia matau ki mua i a koe.
Awhinatia matau kia nui ake to matau kaha,
me to matau aroha,
ina tu ano.
O Lord,
in this holy season of Christmas,
of prayer and song,
we praise you
for the wonders you have sent us:
for guiding stars
and the songs of angels,
for an infant's cry in a humble shelter.
We praise you
for your Word made flesh
in a small child.
We are all your children,
Strengthen us to help the weak,
defend the newcomer,
welcome the stranger,
free the prisoner,
heal the sick,
relieve the oppressed,
show compassion to the bereaved
and the poor,
and care for your creation,
that the light of Christ may shine on all.
We kneel before you, Lord.
Help us to be stronger
and more loving,
when we rise.