I.
If you feel blue during the holiday season instead of joyous or warm and fuzzy, you are not alone. Give yourself grace for however you are feeling and try not to be down on yourself if you find it hard to muster up the jolly feeling others expect you to have. May the God of peace, the God of all comfort, the God whose grace is sufficient for wherever you are, whatever you’re going through, and whatever you feel, fill your thoughts and your heart with His presence and the power of His word.
Lord God, we thank you that you came to Earth in the person of Jesus Christ, because you wanted us to know you as Immanuel, “God with us.” Help us Father God to focus on you this holiday season. To experience you as our strength, our refuge, and the firm foundation of our lives. Help us to experience the genuine joy found in the truth that you love us with an everlasting love, and that nothing in creation whether trouble, hardship, or mental health challenges, can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
— Olubayo Elimisha, Maranatha Christian Center, San Jose
II.
Dear gracious, loving, and compassionate Father God,
We honor you and with special reverence at Advent, for the gift of Jesus, our Lord, our Savior, and Redeemer. We praise you for teaching us, through Jesus, to care for all your children. As Jesus healed those with mental as well as physical illnesses, remind each one of us to reach out to those with afflictions, and their families, to bless them as Christ blesses us. We ask this in the name of the healer, our Lord born on Christmas. Amen.
In Spanish:
Dios misericordioso, amoroso y compasivo,
Te honramos, y con atención especial de reverencia en el adviento, por tu regalo de Jesús, Nuestro Señor, Nuestro Salvador y Nuestro Redentor. Te alabamos por enseñarnos por medio de Jesús a cuidar a todos nuestros prójimos. Así como Jesús curó a los que sufrían con enfermedades físicas y mentales, recuérdanos a ayudar a los que tengan aflicciones y a sus familias, para bendecirlos como Jesús nos bendice. Te lo pedimos en el nombre de Nuestro Cristo Sanador que nació el día de Navidad. Amen.
–Paul Boehm, Good Samaritan United Methodist Church, Cupertino
III.
Saint John of God, who by divine grace had the special protection of the Archangel Raphael, pray to God to assist me also with his powerful angelic help in my present situation.
You who witnessed the ordeal of those who are prisoners in the prison of themselves, anguished and tormented by their negative thoughts, mental illness and emotional trauma, pray for us so that we are freed from the anxieties of this world, to be able to live with a healthy and calm mind, full of peace and spiritual health.
Assist us in the battlefield of the mind so that we are free from all oppression or mental or emotional illness, and thus we can live a healthy and productive life in the service of the Kingdom of God. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In Spanish:
San Juan de Dios, que por la gracia divina tuviste la protección especial del Arcángel Rafael, ruégale a Dios me asista a mí también con su poderosa ayuda angelical en mi presente situación.
Tu que fuiste testigo del calvario de los que están prisioneros en la cárcel de sí mismos, angustiados y atormentados por sus pensamientos negativos, enfermedades mentales y traumas emocionales, ruega por nosotros para que seamos liberados de las ansiedades de este mundo, para poder vivir con una mente sana y tranquila , llenos de paz y salud espiritual.
Asístenos en el campo de batalla de la mente para que seamos libres de toda opresión o enfermedad mental, o emocional, y así podamos vivir una vida sana y productiva al servicio del Reino de Dios.
Por Jesucristo nuestro Señor. Amén.
–Dr. Angie Ware, Misioneros Oblatos
IV.
Creator of Heaven and Earth, Gracious Savior Jesus Christ, Guiding and Teaching Holy Spirit, save us, be present with us, accompany us through our journey of recovery. Your healing hands embrace us. Heal us, oh God!
Lead us to healers that have been sent by you, angels sent by you, and send us the wounded partners to accompany us. Help us hold up each other, care for each other, guide each other. Help us find a safe harbor in the process of recovery, climb up to a solid starting point, so that we can find our confidence and faith through your direction and receive freedom through your guidance. In the Holy Name of Jesus our Christ, Amen.
In Chinese:
創造天地萬物的主，恩慈救贖的耶穌基督，輔助教導的聖靈，
求你救贖，求你同在，伴隨我們復原的路程。求你醫治的雙手擁抱我們。神啊！ 醫治我們！
求你引領我們到你所派遣的醫護人員，你所派遣的天使，以及你所派遣的帶傷的同伴，
幫助我們互相扶持，互相照顧，互相引領，
幫助我們在這復原的過程之找到平安的避風港，
攀上安全的出發點，能在神你的帶領下尋到信心，在你的指引中得自在。
奉耶穌基督的聖名而求，
阿門
–Pastor Helen Kung, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, San Jose
V.
Loving Heavenly Father God, with the season of thankfulness upon us, I would like to thank you for sending your one and only son, Jesus Christ, into the world to find and save lost souls and to shed his blood for the world. Like sheep, we all go astray. The Lord brings us back and cures all who come to call on you. Lord, you are eternally merciful, and you support healing for those who come to you for healing. It is because you have come to share the gospel to those who are suffering, shine a light on those who are trapped to be liberated, the blind to able to see and the oppressed to be free, so that they can witness your light and find an end to their suffering. At the end of this year, please help lift up those that are physically weak, sad-hearted, oppressed, and depressed. I thank you that the suffering peoples of this world can rely on your grace and compassion to regain their sense of joy, peace, and purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
In Chinese:
慈愛的天父上帝:
在這歲末年終感恩的季節裡,特別感謝您差遣您的兒子,耶穌基督來到世上,尋找拯救失喪的靈魂,並且為世人流血捨命.我們世人都如羊走迷,主將我們尋回,並且醫治凡來求告您的人.主啊,您是大有慈悲憐憫的,來向您尋求醫治的人,您都看顧醫治.因為您來就是要: “傳福音給貧窮的人．報告被擄的得釋放、瞎眼的得看見、叫那受壓制的得自由”.因此,在這歲末年終的時候,懇求您幫助醫治,那些身體軟弱的,心靈憂傷的,受壓制的,抑鬱的.願您堅立他們,能靠主得力,重拾在主裡的喜樂平安和滿足.
奉耶穌的名禱告,
阿門
–Elder Shyu, Chinese Church in Christ (Sunnyvale)
VI.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for entrusting us with the lambs who are facing mental health challenges, so that we can know their struggles and with our awareness take care of them.
Please watch over these lambs who are facing mental health challenges, so that they can recognize you, and please give them hope and alleviate their suffering.
Please bless all of their families, give them both confidence and courage, and walk together with them through their challenges.
Please bless all of the caregivers and volunteers, give support for their wisdom and compassion, and respond to their calls for your guidance and grace.
We ask all of this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
In Chinese:
仁慈的父，
謝謝您把面臨心理健康挑戰的小羊託付給我們，讓我們認識和照顧他們。
求您揀選這些面臨心理健康挑戰的小羊，讓他們認識您，給他們盼望和醫治
求您祝福所有他們的家人，給他們信心和勇氣，一起經歷這個挑戰。
求您祝福所有的關懷者和義工，給他們更多智慧和愛心，回應您對他們的呼召。
以上是奉主耶穌基督的名求。阿們！
–Hank Chen, Holy Name of Jesus Church, San Francisco
VII.
Loving and gracious God, we praise and adore you for your glorious presence in our lives. We thank you for all your blessings and for your lifegiving spirit in each and every one of us. We thank you for the joys we have experienced this year, as well as helping us overcome the difficult challenges we have faced. We ask for your forgiveness for our shortcomings, and pray that you may help us to learn from our mistakes, and turn away from our sins.
As we welcome this Advent Season, please help us to prepare ourselves to celebrate the Good News of your birth into our world. We pray for healing in our mind, body, and spirit. We pray for all who are struggling with mental illness during this Holiday Season, that they may find healing and support in caring communities, through your loving presence. We pray for courage to face the challenges ahead of us, and strength to help others in need. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
In Tagalog:
Mapagmahal at mapagbiyayang Diyos, pinupuri at sinasamba ka namin sa iyong maluwalhating presensya sa aming buhay. Nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng iyong mga pagpapala at sa iyong nagbibigay-buhay na espiritu sa bawat isa sa amin. Nagpapasalamat kami sa mga kagalakan na aming naranasan sa taong ito, gayundin sa pagtulong sa amin na malampasan ang mahihirap na hamon na aming hinarap. Humihingi kami ng kapatawaran sa aming mga pagkukulang, at idinadalangin namin na tulungan mo kaming matuto sa aming mga pagkakamali, at talikuran ang aming mga kasalanan. Sa pagsalubong namin sa Panahon ng Adbiyento, mangyaring tulungan kaming ihanda ang aming mga sarili upang ipagdiwang ang Mabuting Balita ng iyong kapanganakan sa aming mundo. Manalangin tayo para sa kagalingan sa ating isip, katawan, at espiritu. Idinadalangin namin ang lahat ng nahihirapan sa sakit sa pag-iisip sa Panahon ng Kapaskuhan na ito, na sila ay makatagpo ng kagalingan at suporta sa mga komunidad na nagmamalasakit, sa pamamagitan ng iyong mapagmahal na presensya. Nagdarasal tayo para sa lakas ng loob na harapin ang mga pagsubok na hinaharap natin, at lakas upang matulungan ang iba na nangangailangan. Hinihiling namin ito sa pamamagitan ni Hesukristo na aming Panginoon at tagapagligtas. Amen.
–Ed Ibarra, St. Mark, Belmont
VIII.
Loving God, we turn to you with a willing and hope-filled heart this Advent season, confident in your sustaining love amid the ups and downs of our life journey. Even though we at times lose sight of your unfailing grace, we trust that you will continue to guide and embrace us even when we are unaware of it.
We want to lift to you, all-tender God, our brokenness. All of us, in one way or another, are filled with doubts, insecurities, anxieties, and fears. We trust that you love these parts of us in a special way. It is precisely when we feel the most lost and confused that you most yearn to remind us of your sustaining love. Not only that: we trust that you love these parts of us so much that, in some mysterious way, they can become the very center of how you want to minister to us. You don’t always take away the negative feelings and thoughts that we have in the way we might expect you to; rather, you transform these parts of ourselves, in your infinite wisdom, to become sources of ever deeper life and love for us and those around us. Grant us the grace, we pray, to open ourselves to this love – a love so vast that it surpasses anything we can imagine.
All-affirming and healing God, may your authentic and life-giving peace be born in our hearts this Advent and Christmas season! Amen.
In Vietnamese:
Yêu mến Chúa, chúng con hướng về tất cả mọi người với trái tim sẵn sàng và tràn đầy hy vọng trong Mùa Vọng này, tin tưởng vào tình yêu bền vững của tất cả mọi người giữa những thăng trầm của hành trình cuộc đời. Mặc dù đôi khi chúng con không nhìn thấy ân điển không bao giờ cạn của tất cả mọi người, chúng con tin rằng tất cả mọi người sẽ tiếp tục hướng dẫn và bao bọc chúng con ngay cả khi chúng con không biết về điều đó.
Chúng con xin dâng lên Thiên Chúa nhân từ, yếu đuối của chúng con. Tất cả chúng ta, bằng cách này hay cách khác, đều chứa đầy những nghi ngờ, bất an, lo lắng và sợ hãi. Chúng con tin tưởng rằng tất cả mọi người yêu thích những phần này của chúng con theo một cách đặc biệt. Đó chính là lúc chúng ta cảm thấy mất mát và bối rối nhất mà tất cả mọi người khao khát nhất để nhắc nhở chúng ta về tình yêu bền vững của mình. Không chỉ vậy: chúng con tin tưởng rằng tất cả mọi người yêu những bộ phận này của chúng con đến mức, theo một cách bí ẩn nào đó, chúng có thể trở thành trung tâm của cách tất cả mọi người muốn phục vụ chúng con. Không phải lúc nào tất cả mọi người cũng loại bỏ những cảm xúc và suy nghĩ tiêu cực mà chúng ta có theo cách mà chúng ta có thể mong đợi ở tất cả mọi người; thay vào đó, tất cả mọi người biến đổi những phần này của chính chúng ta, với trí tuệ vô hạn của mình, để trở thành nguồn sống và tình yêu sâu sắc hơn bao giờ hết cho chúng ta và những người xung quanh chúng ta. Xin ban cho chúng con ân sủng, chúng con cầu nguyện, để mở lòng đón nhận tình yêu này – một tình yêu rộng lớn đến mức vượt qua bất cứ điều gì chúng con có thể tưởng tượng.
Xin Đức Chúa Trời hết lòng khẳng định và chữa lành, xin cho sự bình an đích thực và sự sống của Ngài được sinh ra trong tâm hồn chúng ta trong Mùa Vọng và Mùa Giáng sinh này! Amen.
– Father Brad Mills, SJ, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, San Jose
