An interpretation, in prayer, of Madeleine L’Engle’s poem: “This Is No Time for a Child to Be Born” Christmas 1973
O, Word of words, you were here at the beginning and you are here with each of us through the short spans of life on this Earth. You know the giant arcs of time, and so often we do not understand ourselves to be situated within an unlimited sweep of millennia upon millennia.
We lament the tragic events that, since the beginning of time, have continued to befall our brothers and sisters around the globe, and, sometimes, us: great floods and fiery furnaces; exile to far places; fear of going without bread when we are crowded on a hillside with thousands of other hungry people; abandonment beside the road without anyone stopping to help; lack of an invitation to the table; feeling weary and heavy laden with fear; longing for home; cast out because of language, skin color, politics, age, religion, homeland.
O God, our Creator, whom we worship and adore, we confess that sometimes we cannot imagine that your love is so strong and so true and so faithful that you want to be with all of us in this great collection of humanity here on the Earth. We often fail to understand that you created each person in your image. Our Healer, our Hope, our Companion, you know the suffering, the lament, the pain, the loneliness in our world. Why did you take the risk of birth?
This is no time for a child to be born,
With the earth betrayed by war & hate
And a comet slashing the sky to warn
That time runs out & the sun burns late.
In this time of Advent 2025, and perhaps in all times, O God, story after story in our world’s news seems to be an echo of a story that has lived its life in some shape or form in different generations and different places. We lament these scenes of desperation … or unjust news … or environmental disasters that hurt our global family. God, break our hearts for the things that break your heart.
* We pray for families in Gaza who are bracing for a tragic situation. Predictions of more heavy downpours; cold, strong winds – nearly gale force; and lighting storms. Tents provide flimsy protection, if any. Only 40,000 tents out of the 300,00 needed have been allowed into the Palestinian territory. Tools to repair the sewage system and food supplies have also been denied access. It’s time for the cease fire agreement to enter phase two, even though the first phase fell short of its promises through limited aid development and the violent deaths of hundreds of Palestinians.
* In Indonesia, nearly 1,000 have been killed and nearly 1 million displaced across the provinces of North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh because of catastrophic floods and landslides.
* Thailand and Cambodia are experiencing the third day of cross-border shelling and air raids. Clashes on disputed borders have forced half a million civilians into two shelters, one a sports arena in Thailand, while in Cambodia people are sheltering near temples.
* The World Food Program sends the urgent message, “The world needs to pay attention to Sudan now.” It is assisting 5 million people. Two million of those are in Darfur and other hard to reach areas. Twenty million people in the country are acutely food insecure. Others are internally displaced persons; some are returning from being refugees; and the needs are massive.
That was no time for a child to be born,
In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;
Honour & truth were trampled by scorn –
Yet here did the Saviour make his home.
Other Stories of the World This Week to Keep in Your Prayers
* Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to advance democracy in her country. She was praised for “tireless work promoting democratic rights of the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
* On Wednesday, Australia imposed one of the world’s most comprehensive measures barring social media for children under the age of 16. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the move was needed to address concerns about how social media affects children’s mental health.
* Nigeria rescued 100 children who had been abducted by gunmen from their school in Niger last month. Authorities continue efforts to free about 150 others still held captive.
* On Tuesday Ukraine’s president Vloydymer Zelenskyy met Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy, and thanked the pontiff for his constant support of Ukraine and his calls “for a just peace.” Then Zelenskyy briefed him on mediation efforts “to return the children abducted by Russia.” He invited the Pope to come to Ukraine, saying “This would be a powerful signal of support for our people.”
When is the time for love to be born?
The inn is full on the planet earth,
And by a comet the sky is torn-
Yet Love still takes the risk of birth.
Generation upon generation, upon generation, upon generation, through eons of millennia, the people you created in your image have migrated across rivers and seas and sometimes whole continents, on foot, by plane, by train, through the changing weather and the shifting seasons, making sure the little ones were within their parents’ sight.
Those who travel set out on their journeys to seek a place of peace; to pursue an education; to escape a violent or racist government; to faithfully worship you, God, in the traditions that sustain them; to find welcome they have never known before; to risk borders that seem to crop up out of nowhere; to risk not seeing family or birthplace again: risking language, risking life, risking love to be born among us on this earth that has, for all the time people have lived in the world, dwelled in each person who has known the anxiety of looking for a lost child, the unbearable sorrow of being pulled from the crowd and imprisoned, the weariness of caring for a loved one who is ill, the journey that goes on so long that many who make it are sure that your holy presence must have been walking with them.
Help us realize that you risk your birth for us over and over again – so we can risk it for our neighbours and for you.
May it be so. Amen.
Week beginning 7th December. 25
Pray for those who live in
Arden Meads
Week beginning 21st December 25
Pray for those who live in
Aylesbury Road
Week beginning 14th December 25
Pray for those who live in
Aylesbury Close
Week beginning 28th December 25
Pray for those who live in
Belton Close
Please pray for the North Western Baptist Association as they seek to share
God’s love together across the Baptist communities in Merseyside, Greater
Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, and parts of Cumbria and North Wales.
This week please pray the Small Church Connexion as they expand their team, vision and reach. A high percentage of Christians across the UK experience a valid expression of God’s Kingdom every Sunday in congregations with 40 people or less, and the Small Church Connexion aims to inspire, empathise and encourage with resources to try and links to various websites to help churches in their mission to reach people for Christ.
In this Christmas week, we give thanks for the love of God shown through the birth of our Lord Jesus. Pray that we may show God’s light and peace to those we meet this Christmastime.
As we come to the end of 2025, take time to reflect on the past year. Pray that we may see where God has blessed us and challenged us, and ask for God’s guiding presence for the year ahead.
Prayers for our Union and our Community
World in Prayer
Prayer — If you are in need of prayer, please let us know. You can send us an
email or drop a note off at the church building. Your need will be kept
confidential as we pray for you.
1. Pray for our community. May the Lord Jesus keep us safe and healthy. May His blessings fill our
cups so we can share with others.
2. Pray for our country. May the Lord Jesus guide cultural, educational, political, and social leaders to
make good decisions.
3. Pray for our world. May the Peace of Jesus spread to every country and bring an end to war and
Violence
For more information, contact Lawrence or Sarah Leigh Ballew at slbchurch.bham@gmail.com
