Guided Daily Prayer (Series 2)

December 17, 2023
[view/print as PDF]

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.

---

Third Sunday of Advent ● Guided Daily Prayer

Opening Sentences:

Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. (Psalm 43:3)

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP,1979)

Praying Together:
Our King and Savior now draws near: Come, let us adore him. Amen.

Prayer of Confession:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.  (BCP,1979)

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

Scripture Reading – Isaiah 61:1-3:

¹The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; ²to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; ³to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

[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 peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

For the sick, the suffering and those in any trouble, grant them comfort. Let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.] *

For our hometown and for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Son of the Most High, Prince of Peace, be born again into our world. Wherever there is war, Come, thou holy child of peace, with healing in thy wings, 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:

As we wait with earnest longing and eager expectation for the labor to begin, we pray your steadfast love that we prepare with joy and hope to welcome the child, conceived of the holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. “Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing.” Amen.