Under the canopy of your love, O God, we
acknowledge your sovereignty, are
drawn to your kindness, honour your precepts and praise your integrity.
We pray for our community, family and friends:
For those who are hurting today, we
pray; for those who find Christmas difficult. For those struggling with illness,
anxiety, family turmoil or any other trouble.
Grant them peace and the benediction of your blessedness. We pray for grace and courage in our own
trouble. We pray that we will learn
daily, to wait upon you for all things. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Here, and in all our world today, there are good people who are quietly
living out your precepts, against the dark backdrop of godlessness, greed,
poverty or violence. Thank you for these
lights in dark places. Bless and protect
these salts of the earth.
For those who are disillusioned;
who hold their broken dreams in trembling hands; who have known the pain of undeserved
dishonour; who have been betrayed by
people they once trusted. There are so
many of us Lord; have mercy.
We pray for
the world and it's people. Here,
in Australia, we are encircled round about with
peace. We can live our fortunate lives unaccompanied by the noise of war. We ask your blessing on those places which
have not this quietude; whose very hills
are barren from the blows of conflict and tumult; whose cities are broken by the plunder of
warlords and the evil of retaliation. We
pray for those people who live daily with the threat of violence, and for those
whose minds are distorted by the indoctrination of vengeance.
Bless those who are forced to flee all they know and hold dear, because
of war or famine. Bless, we beseech you,
with your aid, protection and provision.
For those who face the tumult of battle, today, we ask your
blessing. Let your mercy fall on the innocent and the evil; the victor and the fallen.
For those who live with constant poverty, or under the threat of violence; those who have no home; whose nights are spent in unsafe places; who are enslaved in any way. Have mercy on these Lord.
We pray for
those in need. For those who live in the shadow of
abuse or suffering. Lord, provide one
person in each of these darkened hearts, who will be a light to them.
For those who find it difficult to forgive,
bestow grace. For those plagued by bitterness, bring healing. For those beset with worries, grant
resolution of them. For those whose God
is money, allow release.
We pray for those who mourn: for
lost loved ones; for children
straying; for broken relationships; for personal hurts and disappointments.
Bless those who are grieving, who are disappointed, disillusioned; for those who are tempted beyond what they
think they can bear. For those unfairly victimized, give your deliverance.
We pray for Ourselves:
In this Christmas season, we look to the Christ child; light of the
world, comforter, counsellor, prince of peace, author of love.
The winds of melancholy blow over us all at times and we can’t sense
your presence. We look for signs and
miracles and wonder why you are silent in the face of our suffering, and learn
at last that the best of your power is your quiet abiding in our hearts, and the imparting of your beautiful character
to us. You grieve with us when we grieve
and you remake the suffering until our souls are bright with the warmth of your
flawless and beautiful character and we are strong and happy.
We still believe you, though we can’t always understand, and it’s this
kind of faith which can break down strongholds and summon the angel host.
Make us a blessing to someone else. Herein lies the path to our own healing.
Give us a heart of contentment with what we have, so that we may enjoy
your blessings fully, without envy for what others’ have. Save us, we beseech you, from greed. We pray against corruption in every place.
We are thankful for so many things;
a warm bed to sleep in; the quiet
respite of holidays; a sunny place to
read and think. For things which
grow; for insects which are as essential
to the earth as the air we breathe; for
fresh water, enough food, medical services.
For these and all your daily bounty, we give you our thanks. Thank you for people who share with those who
have much less.
Christ, whose countenance is always turned kindly towards our frailty,
give us grace to run bravely the race of faith, to fight steadfastly the good
fight, to love all who cross our path.
Christ, who has promised a harvest of righteousness to those who sow in
peace, give us your holy presence today, that we may see our way clearly,
without the shadow of ego and willfulness.
Lord of the wise men and the shepherds, help us this
Christmas season to remember that the shadow of the cross fell across your
manger.
You were born to poverty and a single mother. You enjoyed no status or wealth. Across our world, millions can relate to your
circumstances. We come with the hearts which
are empty without you.
May the love
of God rest on our heads; may the voice of God be in our ears; may the beauty of God reside in our hearts
and may the holiness of God guard our souls.
We gather our
prayers together and ask them in Jesus name whose name is above every other
name, whose power is above all other powers, whose face beholds God’s face;
whose Will commands the angels and whose light will never be extinguished.
Amen.
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