Guided Daily Prayer (Series 2)

December 9, 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 Saturday of Advent ● Guided Daily Prayer

Opening Sentences:
O give thanks to the Lord, and call upon his Name; make known his deeds among the peoples. (Psalm 105:1)

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may prepare ourselves to celebrate the resurrection of your son and our Lord and savior; giving thanks for the newness of life Christ gives us today; and everlasting life you promise to all those who believe in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (adapted from BCP,1979)

Praying Together:
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise;
we give thanks to him and call upon his Name. 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.”]

Jesus, Emmanuel, you are coming again, and we are not ready:
We meant to build a royal nursery, but we find you in a stall. We came to sing you festive carols, but you listen to the song of doves. We want to bring you food and gifts, but you ask for our hearts and minds.
Forgive us for being distracted and dazzled by other lights.
Forgive us for false cheer when you are our only hope and joy. Forgive us for overlooking you among the poor and outcast. Come with us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. Amen. (BCP,1979)

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 – Ezekiel 36:24-28:
I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 
A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
 I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. 
Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your 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 all people, we pray for justice and unity. Let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.] *

We pray, O Lord, for deliverance for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed and those in the prisons of their own making. We pray for all in need or trouble, come Christ Jesus, come, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

Bless our community, and let your light shine through our works. Let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.] *

Grant us humility this Advent, that we may walk in the way of your Word. 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:
Gracious God, as we serve You in faith and holiness, may our actions and words bear witness to Your presence in our lives. Guide us through this Advent season, keeping our focus on the coming of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. (based on RCL Prayers)