Guided Daily Prayer (Series 2)

December 18, 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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Third Monday of Advent ● Guided Daily Prayer

Opening Sentences:

The dwelling of God is with mankind. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. (Revelation 21:3)

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP,1979)

Praying Together:

Come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. Amen. (from Psalm 95)

Prayer of Confession:

Most holy and merciful God, We confess to you and to one another, and to the whole communion of saints in heaven and on earth, that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. Forgive and renew us by your mercy and love. Amen. (adapted from BCP,1979)

Words of Assurance:
Sisters and Brothers, be assured that, when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and forgives our sins, cleansing us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Scripture Reading – Ephesians 6:15-17:
. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. ¹⁵As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. ¹⁶With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

[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 peace and goodwill among the nations; and for the well-being of all people we pray for justice and peace, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

For those who mourn, send your gentle presence to wipe every tear. Let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.] *

For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

Lord of love and life, we pray for your presence to be known as we wait and watch, O Come O Come Emmanuel. 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:

Be with us, Lord, every moment and in every place so that we may respond to your call to minister to the broken, the lonely and the needy; giving hope and sharing your gracious presence in all our work and ways, forever and always giving glory to you, O God our Father. Amen.