Heavenly Father, at this time of Advent, help us to be still, to ponder, to be prayerful as we wait for your glorious coming. Thank you, Gracious Father, for this special time of reflection, a time of excitement as well as contemplation of your gift to mankind. Lord, encourage & enable us to see beyond ourselves into a world waiting……. waiting for good news….waiting for peace to reign….a world waiting for the message of Hope.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers….
God of Compassion, in this troubled world, we bring before You the conflicts in Ethiopia. Lord we hear news of massacres, communities being displaced & our brothers & sisters being targeted. Place your hand of protection upon your people. Bring comfort to those mourning loved ones & provide safety for those living in fear, bring peace, to all nations, we pray.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers…..
God of Light, we pray for the continued negotiations with the European Union. We ask for wisdom & understanding for those in authority making vital decisions. As British borders are re- defined, we pray for clear direction as to how those borders are to be re-claimed & re-established. We pray also for the personal needs of each community & for livelihoods to be valued. Bring Your light & healing, we pray, to every aspect of Brexit.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers…..
God of Hope, we share our thanks with You for the promise of a vaccine for Covid. It brings to us such hope of freedom for our future. We share with You our gratitude for the skills of all the scientists who have diligently worked towards this breakthrough. We thank you for the measure of flexibility we have this Christmas to see family or friends. Lord, we recognise that this isn’t ideal for many & we pray for those who will struggle this Christmas-time with loneliness, depression & anxiety for what the future holds. Let us pause for a moment as we lift our hearts together in prayer.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers…..
God of Love, even in the darkest moments, your love gives us hope. Your Love compels us to stand together in prayer. As we wait…… we reflect on & celebrate the fact that you know us personally, You know every element of our history, every detail of our character. To You Lord, we are not just a face in a crowd. You came down from Heaven for us, to live amongst us, to experience life, as we experience life. Your love gives us hope. We wait…..
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen
St. Paul's Letchworth