(nspired by the Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac; words in quotations are his.

Great Spirit, Immanuel,
in this Advent season,
we prepare to celebrate anew
the birth of Christ.
As we sing the songs
that tell us Christ will be bornin a manager,
remind us that again this year,
we will find “Christ in the rubble” of Gaza.
For Christ comes to the margins of life.
Not to the imperial palace
but to the humble people
Christ comes.
Not to the seat of powerbut to Bethlehem, little and insignificant
Christ comes.
Not to those enthroned
but to the disinherited and dispossesed
Christ comes.
For Christmas is your act of solidarity
with your beloved children who are oppressed.
Christmas provides a ray of hope
amid the “heart of pain and suffering.”
“Christmas is the radiance of life
from the heart of destruction and death.”
Inspire us, God, to seek Christ under the rubble.
Inspire us, God, to see Christ on the margins.
Inspire us, God, to follow Christ by working for
liberation and justice.
Amen.

Last year, the Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac and the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem introduced the concept of Christ in the Rubble in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Their advent creche showed the Christ child surrounded by broken stones and concreate and other representations of destruction.

This prayer, built on that image, focuses on the rubble of Gaza. Rubble, in many forms—physical, psychological, social, and more, exists around. May we seek Christ in all the rubble of the world and respond.