Prayer of Praise and of Confession    

God of majesty and power,

who spoke and this World was,

who breathed and this world lived,

who counts the hairs upon our head,

who sees our thoughts and reads our hearts,

who loves us more than we deserve,

How can we not bring today our sacrifice of praise?

For in the child at Bethlehem lies the promise of intimacy

with a Saviour who would die even for me,

and the promise of an eternity in which to praise you more each day,

God of promise we praise your name.

Unto you, O God, in whom all things are known, and from whom nothing is hidden, we draw close by lifting our prayer of confession.  You come to us with the good news of salvation, but we often fail to notice.

You come to us day by day, yet we close the doors of our hearts when it seems convenient to do things our own way.  Merciful God, forgive us.

We ignore your presence and leadership and have lived as if we have no relationship with you.

We have failed to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.  Merciful god, forgive us.

Holy God, we know that you want to come and walk with us through the journey of our lives.  You send to us a Saviour who seeks to offer us not only an eternal home but also the pattern for the living of our daily lives.

Forgive us for the times when we have turned our back on your invitation and have chosen to walk our own way.

Forgive us for the times we make the path into our hearts a steep one, making it hard for you to enter.

Forgive us when we treat even our loved ones with an unforgiving spirit.  Forgive us when we busy our lives with diversions that deflect our attention from you.

We invite your Holy Spirit to dwell within us and to bring us close to you this day.  May we now live so that the World will know that you have come.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

John the Baptist assured those who had come to hear him preach,

“Turn away from your sins and God will forgive you.”  (Mark 1: 4) 

We have confessed our sins before God, and have trusted in His grace and mercy to forgive us.  Let us, too, then, be assured by this promise by John, that we have been forgiven by God and have been brought back into a right relationship with Him.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

Heavenly Father, as once again we prepare for Christmas, help us to find time in our busy lives for quiet and thought and prayer, that we may reflect upon the wonder of your love and allow the story of the Saviour’s birth to penetrate our hearts and minds.

So may our joy be deeper, our worship more real, and our lives worthier of all that you have done for us through the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We pray for the church:

• For the wider Christian family who will be celebrating this festival in so many different ways, and for those who dare not celebrate openly.
• For Christians in countries where there is persecution.
• For Christians in our own country, with whom we will share our celebrations
• For our Church family.

Grant that all who come together this Christmas time to worship you in whatever manner and place is suitable for them, that they may be enabled to renew their relationship with you.  Help us all to be glad of your presence, and to rejoice at the coming of Jesus.

May your blessing be upon all who worship with us, give us grace to live as faithful members of your family, that we may learn each day afresh to love and serve you.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for peace:

• Give peace to the World
• Give peace to the victims of war, the refugees, the widowed and the orphans.
• Give peace to family and friends; to those who have quarrelled and need to be reconciled.
• Give peace in our own divided hearts.

We know that without justice there can be no peace.  Let peace come when all people are respected, regardless of race and religion.  Let peace come when trading weapons of mass destruction is a crime.  Let peace come when the Earth’s resources are used wisely for the common good.  Let peace come when money is used to serve and not enslave the World.  Let peace come through the transformation of our lives that we may do justice, love and kindness and walk humbly with you, our God.

Your Son came as the Prince of Peace and brought a message of Peace for all people.

Help us to be peacemakers in our own homes, at our work or wherever we meet people, so that the peace and goodwill of Christmas can find a place in the hearts of all people.

We pray for homeless people and for refugees who have no country to call their own.

Let your blessing be with those who work to help the homeless this Christmas, and give to all of us the determination to help where we can.

We pray for people who are lonely, those who are lonely because they have lost a partner, those who are lonely because no-one seems to care, those who are lonely because of handicap or illness.

Let your presence be with those who are alone at this season of friendship and may we take your friendship to those whom we know will be alone this Christmas.

We pray for friends and family who are ill at this time, or who are recovering from illness or injury.

We bring them to you in the confidence that you love them and know their every need and that your healing power is still the same today.  Bless all that is being done for their recovery and answer our prayers as you see best.

Lord God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your lovingkindness.  To your glory we pray.

(https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/12/advent-intercessions.html)

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

Now and forever.  Amen.

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