INTRODUCTION: (The Class President will read this part)

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year when everyone smells joy in the air and
celebrating with friends and family.

Christmas means different things to a lot of people. To some the focus is on gift giving, food
preparation, decorating trees, cleaning the house, events to attend, sending out Christmas cards
and the list could go on …  There is nothing wrong with doing these Christmas traditions (we
take part in all of them); however, as Christians, we know the true meaning of Christmas started
in a manger in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago.

Christmas is a time to reflect on the Love of Christ. He gave up His crown, comfort and endured
the pain of the cross for us. This unquantifiable love is summed up in the popular bible verse
John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten son, that whosoever
believeth in him will not perish but have eternal life. ”When we ponder on God’s love for us, we
too are encouraged to share love with others, to embrace peace and be our brother’s keeper.
When we are imbued with this love of God, we will always be willing to give a helping hand to
those in need, to give succor and comfort to the vulnerable ones amongst us.

 At Christmas, we are expected to spare time to contemplate on things eternal. That is, we must
remind ourselves that we are strangers here on earth; that our real home is in heaven. And that no
matter how long we live, we shall surely die one day. So many people who started the year 2018
with us are not around to finish it. Like us, they commenced the New Year with high hopes and
aspirations.

Some may have planned to buy a new car or to move into their new apartment. But alas, all those
are now but a pipe dream. Thus, we should count ourselves lucky to be alive to see this
Christmas. This should therefore be a period of gratitude to God for sparing our lives and
counting us among the living. It should equally be an opportunity for us to mend our ways with
God so that we will not be found wanting. The spirit behind Christmas is that of giving and
sharing. The three wise men, on learning about the born child, came calling with gifts of gold,
incense and myrrh. Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide-open heart that gives thought of
others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because
it meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all
manner of hearts for over two thousand years.

Christmas comes true for us if we seek to follow this path of love, sacrifice and forgiveness.
How many times have we felt agitated then people instigate against us? How many times have
we felt unhappy and jealous when someone supersedes us? We feel agitated when people
unfairly target us with their unpleasant acts. But then, Christmas comes to us this season with the
message of hope and forgiveness. Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed his life for us on the Cross of
Calvary as the ultimate sacrifice for mankind. He did not feel agitated that the people crucified
him, pierced his hands and legs with large nails, speared him in the chest; put a crown of thorns
on his head. But Jesus simply said to God, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they
do” That is the true message of forgiveness. Let us celebrate Christmas with fun-filled carols and
merrymaking but also remembering this message of love and forgiveness shown by Christ.
May Christmas season bring a new freshness, a new hope and a new strength today and
through this New Year!

PRAYER I (The Vice President will read this)

Holy and Living God,

in this Thanksgiving year of 2022,
when we are separated from family and friends,
when it’s hard to travel and gather together,
and celebrate Thanksgiving as we’ve done in the past,
help us to embrace what is.
Help us to give thanks within the uncertainty.
Help us to give thanks within our sorrow, within our fears.
In all things, may we open our hearts and give You thanks. Amen.

PRAYER II (The Secretary will read this)

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.

Loving Creator, We asked for strength,
and you gave us difficulties to make us strong.
We asked for wisdom,and you gave us problems to solve.
We asked for prosperity,and you gave us purpose and brains to use.
We asked for courage,and you gave us fears to overcome.
We asked for patience,and you gave us situations where we were forced to wait.
We asked for love,and you gave us troubled people to help.
We asked for justice,and you called us to be just and to lead with integrity.
Lord, we have received nothing that we asked for or wanted.
And yet, we received everything that we needed.
For this, we give thanks.

SAYING THANK YOU AND SORRY

Teacher: As we celebrate love and forgiveness, today is the right time to say “THANK YOU” to
the people who helped and motivated you and to say “SORRY” to the people who you
committed sin for the past five months that you’ve been together. I will give two sheets of paper
then you can write anything you want to say to the two persons here in class.

Teacher: Now, give the letter/note. Sincerely give it and ask forgiveness or say thank you.

PRAYER III (The Treasurer will lead)

Leader: Let us pray together

Dear God,
Thank You for Your love, for the grace You freely offer.
Help me model Your ways when I make my amends to those I’ve hurt
and offer my forgiveness to those who’ve injured me.
Help me set aside my selfishness and speak the truth in love.
Help me focus on my own responsibility in the issue, so my actions won’t be conditional. I know
I can forgive others because You first forgave me.
Thank You for loving me. This I pray, Amen.

PRAYER IV (The Auditor will read this)

Lord God,
Our hearts are crowded with gratitude
as we celebrate this Thanksgiving.
We have come to this room
with great joy and eagerness,
for we are truly grateful to you,
for all that we have been given.
We pause now and, in silent prayer,
do thank you for the great generosity of Your gifts.

We also thank one another for gifts of friendship and family -

especially for the gifts of love and affection
that we have freely shared as brothers and sisters.
We are thankful
for our teachers who are patiently teaching us,
as well as for all those who have labored in love
in order to teach us values.

May You bless this Thanksgiving

and all of us who shall share it
in your holy name. AMEN.