o little town of bethlehem,
bombs fly overhead and your buildings lie in ruin
people flee for safety
neighbor turns on neighbor
and governments debate your worth
[inhale/exhale]
how can we celebrate christmas
when there is no christmas in bethlehem?
o bethlehem, we want to tell it from the mountain
yet people are taking cover
not knowing what tomorrow may hold
hoping there is a tomorrow to be had at all
[inhale/exhale]
o church, how can we celebrate christmas
when there is no christmas in bethlehem?
o bethlehem, we are desperate to see peace on earth
but we only see bodies, spirits, and minds
suffering from the violence of war
[inhale/exhale]
o church, how can we celebrate christmas
when there is no christmas in bethlehem?
o bethlehem, we yearn to proclaim joy to the world.
but when so many are overcome by sorrow, heartache, grief, and loss
from the deaths of parents, children, friends, and neighbors
[inhale/exhale]
o church, how can we celebrate christmas
when there is no christmas in bethlehem?
o bethlehem, we anticipate the birth of our savior with a silent night, a holy night
but when the silence that blankets far too many
is the silence of a world that watches suffering from afar and does not act
[inhale/exhale]
o church, how can we celebrate christmas
when there is no christmas in Bethlehem?
and yet, o people, somehow we still hear
the angels sweetly singing —
in being present to the suffering of others
hope overcomes despair
in defying systems of violence
peace overwhelms war
in living into our collective humanity
joy is free to all
and in breaking through hearts of hate
love has the final word
may we all soon believe and know
that jesus christ is born
AMEN
This litany was written for the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity and was inspired by the photo from the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church’s Nativity scene in Bethlehem and the cancellation of Christmas celebrations in the West Bank.
Please feel free to use this litany with attribution to Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow (ig/@breyeschow and the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (ig/@im4humanintegrity)
