Guided Daily Prayer (Series 2)

December 13, 2023
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Instructions: The underlined text are headings and do not need to be read. [Brackets] are instructions to be followed but not necessarily read. FOR INDIVIDUAL PRAYER: I suggest you read the prayer sheet aloud, but reading silently is fine too. FOR GROUP PRAYER: have one person act as leader. The leader reads the regular print and everyone reads the Bold Italic Type together.

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Second Wednesday of Advent ● Guided Daily Prayer

Opening Sentences:

 The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. (John 4:23)

O Lord, create in us the perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP,1979)

Praying Together:

For the Lord is good!
his mercy is everlasting and his faithfulness endures from age to age. (from Psalm 100)

Prayers of Confession

[If the Guide is used in group prayer, the leader begins by saying “Come, let us offer our confession and seek God’s forgiveness together.”]

Gracious and forgiving God, we come to you in prayer knowing our weakness.
We confess that in our selfish desires, we have not loved you with our whole heart, we have not done your will, we have not loved our neighbor, we have not taken care of the widow and the orphan. We have fallen short and our hearts are heavy with that truth. Forgive us Lord, repair our hearts and turn us toward your loving and merciful ways. Lord in your mercy hear our confession and forgive. Amen.

Words of Assurance:

Be certain my friends, with mercy and grace Almighty God forgives us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthens us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keeps us in eternal life.

Scripture Reading – Mark 2:18-20:
¹⁸Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” ¹⁹Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. ²⁰The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day

[Silent Prayer / or Music may be listened to / or a Hymn is sung.]

Prayers of the People:
“With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying “O Lord, hear our prayer.”

For the courage to build bridges of trust and friendship across divides of race, culture and religion, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

We thank you Lord, for the many blessings you have bestowed upon us. Keep us mindful of those who need still to hear of your unconditional love, your tender mercy and your unmerited grace, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

As we await the coming of Christ, open our hearts to receive Him. Let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.] *

For our individual and special prayers this day, we lift them up to the Lord. [Silent Prayer]

The Lord’s Prayer:

“Hear us, O Lord, as we pray together:”

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Closing Prayer:
In this sacred season, O God of joy, strengthen us in our weaknesses and enrich our lives with Your abundant grace. May our spirits rejoice in the salvation You bring, and may we faithfully serve You until Christ comes again. Amen. (based on RCL Prayers)