Guided Daily Prayer (Series 2)

December 7, 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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First Thursday of Advent ● Guided Daily Prayer ● December 7, 2023

Opening Sentences:
 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:3)

God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; 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:
Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands;
serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song. 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.”]

Lord, the house of my soul is narrow;
enlarge it that thou may enter in.
The house of my soul is in disrepair;
I confess that it is ruinous and displeases your sight.
But who shall cleanse it, or to whom shall I cry but you?
Only you, O Lord, can cleanse me from my secret faults, and spare me from strange sins.
Heavenly Father, we praise you for adopting us as your children, and making us heirs of eternal life.
In your mercy you have washed us from our sins and made us clean in your sight.
Forgive us our sins and renew us by your grace, that we may continue to grow as members of Christ, in whom alone is our salvation. Amen. (adapted from a prayer of St. Augustine)

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 Based on Hosea 6:1-3:
“Come, let us return to the Lord, for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;
    he has struck down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us;
    on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn;
he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

[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 leaders of all nations, and for all in authority, teach them wisdom and compassion. Let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.

For those who are ill and in need of physical healing, and for those who care for them, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

We pray for those who are homeless, and for whom the threat of homelessness looms large in the days ahead, send your angels to guide and protect them, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

Renew our spirits as we watch for signs of your Advent. 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 time of waiting and preparation, fill us, O God, with the joy of Your grace. Prepare our hearts for the message of Your Son, and lead us in a life of holiness and joy as we await the coming of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. (based on RCL Prayers)