Category: Prayer of the Week

As we gather in this sanctuary this morning,
let our hearts rejoice in the promise of eternal life.
Let us approach the throne of divine mercy to worship the living and loving God
as our ancestors have faithfully worshipped: in truth and in spirit.
And let us give thanks for everything today and all the days of our lives.
Amen

Heavenly Father,
your Son battled with the powers of darkness, and grew closer to you in the desert;
help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayer
that we may witness to your saving love in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Radiant God, source of light,
as you surrounded Jesus with your glory, so you come to us in penetrating brightness.
You catch us off guard and expose our weakness.
We choose the limelight while you call us to explore the shadows and brighten the darkness.
We seek the spectacular while you bind up the broken In countless acts of mercy.
We seek to stay on the mountain or in a comfortable pew while you walk to the valleys of need.
Radiant God,
fill us with light and courage to carry good news into all the corners of the world
and to bring back the joy of your presence.
Amen

Lord, as we gather here today, we pray that you wold make us attentive to you and to one another.
Give us minds that think the best of everyone; eyes that see beauty in the ordinary;
ears that want to hear only good things about others; mouths that speak blessings
and hearts that are open to you and to others.
Receive us kind Lord by your grace and help us to mend our lives.
Amen

God of our salvation,
help us to turn away from those habits
which harm our bodies and poison our minds
and to choose again your gift of life,
revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Almighty God, gentle and compassionate,
if we are not strong in you, then we are weak;
if we do not need you, then we are poor.
Thank you for receiving our praise and filling our lives,
for you are our everything and we are here to worship by the power of your spirit.
Amen

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this time to gather and to learn the truth of ourselves.
We cannot always feel joy for this life for we know too much of lives that have been broken.
Give us courage when we hear tragedy, despair and death to bless you, the one true Judge.
Amen

Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new:
transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace,
and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen

Loving God, we thank you that you can break into our lives
and bless us with moments of clarity.
Help us to act on your prompting and be confident of our calling,
that when new opportunities come, we will be ready to embrace them to your glory,
and in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen

O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen

Lord, we thank you for the gift of your scriptures;
for the people whose stories we read within them.
We thank you for Joseph, whose care and obedience
ensured the safety and wellbeing of our Lord
the son of God and changed the world
and through whom we are adopted into God’s family.
Amen

Now we know it’s all about trust:
Joseph trusted God and kept his word to Mary.
A seed planted in hope can bring down a fortress.
O Lord, strengthen our trust in your promise
of a new made world, a life unending ever after,
all through the act of power that raised Jesus from the dead.
Amen

We are well along the Pilgrim way, but where is this blooming desert?
We are still weary, trudging slowly towards gladness.
O Lord, keep us curious with a purpose:
Help us follow the Baptist’s call – ‘Are you The One?’ – with that confident answer in Mary’s song.
Amen

We believe the rule of justice will come,
but what is the witness of people who hope?
O Lord, give us power to live our Baptism,
to demonstrate forgiveness by the fruit we bear:
defend the humble, help the needy, crush oppression,
testify to peace and love each other in Christ
because we are the keepers of the coming Kingdom.
Amen

The year rushes on to its end; the days are very short.
The city prepares for feasting with useless tinsel and fairy lights.
O Lord, we feel so unready – you could arrive in the sleepy dark.
Jesus, be our Advent Guide – surround us with your armour of light.
Amen