Daily Prayers Wednesday, 8 December 2021

by Ian Trimnell · 8 December 2021

Prayers for the Day, Wednesday

Good morning, Cornerstone Friends.

To begin today an Advent hymn. I expect you will know the tune so please do join in by singing it aloud. I am not a good singer at all but in my own home I can sing it with gusto without upsetting anyone else!

O comfort my people
and calm all their fear,
and tell them the time of
salvation draws near.
O tell them I come
to remove all their shame.
Then they will forever
give praise to my name.

Proclaim to the cities
of Judah my word:
that gentle yet strong is
the hand of the Lord.
I rescue the captives,
my people defend
and bring them to justice
and joy without end.

All mountains and hills shall
become as a plain
for vanished are mourning
and hunger and pain.
And never again shall
these war against you.
Behold I come quickly
to make all things new.

Our opening prayers are based on the themes of the verses of this hymn.

Loving God, we pray that you will calm all our fears – whether they be about illness, loneliness, hunger, cold, poverty, relationships or any other issues that are causing us anxiety at the moment. Help us to bring all our fears to you knowing that you are always there and will wrap us in your love and care. And at the same time please enable us to be aware of the needs of others and to play our part in bringing your love and care to all those with whom we come into contact.
Amen

Loving God, we pray for your help to spread the word of your love and saving grace to the people of central Milton Keynes and to all our contacts today. May we show in our lives your qualities of justice and peace and the joy of living close to you.
Amen

Loving God, we thank you for the first coming of Jesus as a baby in Bethlehem. As we prepare for your second coming, when and where we do not know, help us to make room for you in our busy lives and to put you at the centre of our Christmas preparations. We pray for all our friends, family and neighbours, near and far, that they may too see you as the main focus of Christmas. And we remember all those we love who are now enjoying being in your nearer presence and for whom mourning, hunger and pain are no more.
Amen

Our reading for today is Psalm 63

O God, you are my God:
how I long for you!
My soul thirsts for you, my body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
I gaze upon you in the sanctuary
to behold your power and glory.
Your unchanging love is better than life:
my lips will speak your praise.
And so I will praise you with all of my life:
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
My soul will feast and be satisfied,
and my mouth will praise you with joy.
For I will call you to mind as I lie in bed,
and meditate upon you in the watches of the night.
My soul clings to you,
and your right hand upholds me.
You have been my helper, my joy:
I am safe in the shadow of your wings.
( Iona Community translation )

Let us pray.

O God of life, of all life and each life, we lay our lives before you.
We give our lives to you,
from whom nothing in us is hidden.
You are before us, God, you are behind;
You are around us,God, you are within.
O God of life,
you know the secret thoughts of every heart.
We bring the faith that is in us, and the doubt;
We bring the joy that is in us and the sorrow.
O God of life, you are in the light and in the darkness.
We bring the knowledge that is in us, and the ignorance;
We bring the hope that is in us, and the despair.
O God of life, O generous Spirit,
renew us with your life,
today, tomorrow and always.
Amen
( Iona Community )

I really liked it when Don gave us an evening prayer last week. Sometimes I do not pray our daily prayers until the evening, and I very much appreciated having a night time one. In case you are like me I am going to finish with a prayer to end the day. It is from the Church of South India.

O God our Father, by whose mercy and might the world turns safely into darkness and returns again into light: we give into your hands our unfinished tasks, our unresolved problems and our unfulfilled hopes, knowing that only that which you bless will prosper. To your great love and protection we commit each other and all your people, knowing that you alone are our sure defender, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen