Guided Daily Prayer (Series 2)

December 15, 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 Thursday of Advent ● Guided Daily Prayer

Opening Sentences:

 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1)

God, the author of peace and lover of unity, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom; defend us, your humble servants, in all the trials of life; Strengthen us to trust in your defense, and strengthen us to confront hatred with peace; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (adapted from BCP,1979)

Praying Together:

For the Lord is good!
His mercy is everlasting, and his faithfulness endures from age to age. Amen. (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.”]

For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
We confess that our hope is often in the might of our own hands instead of your merciful and all knowing ways.
We confess that in this season of light our actions are often dark and hurtful.
We confess that in this season of light we spend our time seeking lights that will burn out, and spend our money on things that will wear out. Forgive us Lord, and set us back on your paths of wisdom. Amen.  (Based on Psalm 25)

Words of Assurance:
Be assured of God’s righteousness. In confessing our sins with a humble heart, God is merciful, just and kind.

Scripture Reading Philippians 3:12-16
Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.

[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 grace to see your image in every person, that we may honor their dignity and treat all people with respect, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

We pray your hedge of protection around all those in dangerous circumstances: the homeless, the drug addicted, those in shelters and those fleeing from oppressive governmental regimes. May they find refuge in you, Father God, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

For caregivers who tend to the sick, and all who seek healing, that they may know your compassion through the loving care of others, 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:|
Merciful God, as the prophets of old proclaimed Your justice, may we too be filled with a sense of righteous purpose. Inspire us to spread the joy of Your saving grace, preparing our hearts and our world for the coming of Christ. Amen. (based on RCL Prayers)