Worship Resources for Advent and Christmas

Dec 6 2020: Advent 2

Response: Lord graciously hear us

Lord, you sent John the Baptist to make straight the way of the Lord.

  Help us in this holy season of Advent

  to repent of all the wrong things that we do, and say, and are,  so that when the Lord Jesus comes at Christmas,

  he may find the way into our lives clear and straight.

John declared that he was not fit to undo Jesus’s sandal.

  Give us the grace to share in that humility.

John pointed others away from himself and towards Jesus.

  Grant that, through the things we say and the way we live our lives,

  we too may show others the way to Jesus.

(pause) Lord, hear us

Lord God, we know you love each one of us;

  teach us how much you also love every other sinner on this planet;

  not just the believers but also the unbelievers,

  not just good people but also the very bad.

  We pray for them and for ourselves . . .

(pause) Lord, hear us

December 13 2020: Advent 3

We thank you for the many kindly people we have met last week:

  At work and in the street, in shops, at school and in our leisure,

  and for those who fight for the rights of the needy and exploited.

  Lord, bless them, and deliver them from evil . . .

(pause) Lord, hear us

  We pray for the many awkward people we meet:

     The painfully shy, the prickly characters,

     those who are always complaining,

     the short tempered and those who are quick to take offence.

We pray for those who don’t seem to be aware

    when their words and actions hurt others.

    We ask forgiveness for the times when we ourselves have been difficult,    complaining, and quick to take offence.

    Lord, bless us, and deliver us from evil . . .

(pause) Lord, hear us

 We thank you for the people who are easy to like and love:

     The generous ones,

     those who keep their good humour when under pressure,

     those who volunteer for the difficult tasks,

     those who bear no grudges

     and all who remain honest when others are cheating.

   Lord, bless them, and deliver them from evil . . .

. . . (pause) Lord, hear us

We pray for all who are miserable today:  

    people who suffer from depression or acute anxiety,

   those who have just received bad news about their health,

   people who have been rejected by someone they love,

   those imprisoned for crimes they did not commit,

   the alcoholics and drug addicts who can’t break free,

   the dying and the grieving who have no one to comfort them.

Lord, bless them, and deliver them from evil . . .

(pause) Lord, hear us

Dec 20 2020: Advent 4

As we meditate on the angel’s message to Mary, we pray for couples who would dearly love a child, but who are unable to conceive. We pray too for children who are conceived but unwanted, and for their parents. And we ask your blessing on all pregnant women, especially those who, like Mary, will be giving birth in difficult circumstances, and on the medical aid workers who try to help them. We pray for the work of the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa and on its work to help women damaged in childbirth. We ask these things in the Name . . .

We pray for your church. Lord, we ask your blessing on all bishops, priests and deacons, on Lay Readers and pastors of all denominations. We ask you to inspire all Christians, of whatever denomination or tradition, to be faithful to you, so that our lives may bear witness to the beauty and peace of your Kingdom. Help us to be your messengers, to go before you and prepare a way for you in the hearts of the people we know and meet. And bring us all to the unity for which Jesus prayed, so that our united witness may turn the whole world to you. We ask these things in the Name. . .

We pray for peace in your world. We pray for all the ordinary people in our world who through no fault of their own live under oppressive and unjust regimes. We pray for refugees and for people suffering persecution and torture. And we pray for those who carry out torture, that your Holy Spirit may soften their hearts and make them pity their victims. We pray for slaves and bonded labourers and children and adults forced to work in inhumane conditions.

We remember before you asylum seekers, especially those seeking to settle in Britain, and as Christmas approaches, we pray for the children of asylum seekers, innocently caught up in the situation. Give your wisdom to the people who have to make the hard decisions about asylum seekers, and grant that they may always see them first and foremost as people, not as problems or statistics. Through . . .

And we pray for those people who are on the edge of our church communities, asking you to inspire them to step over our threshold and join us in worshipping you. And Lord, we ask that, when we welcome people to our special services over Christmas, they may catch a glimpse of your glory through our worship, and not be put off you because of the failings of us churchgoers.

And we ask you to give us all the grace to persevere in our faith

In the name of. . .

Christmas Day 2020

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for coming into this world and living as one of us. And we ask that as we celebrate your birthday, we may come to know you better, and the Father who sent you. Lord, hear us . . .

Lord, we celebrate your coming to us as a baby in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, and your coming to us today in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Renew in us a sense of wonder and gratitude at your amazing love for mankind. Fill us with your grace, and increase your love in us, so that we may serve you by serving one another and reflect your love in the way we love others. Lord, hear us . . .

We pray for peace in your world, especially remembering before you the people of Bethlehem. And we pray for the people of Iraq, Syria, and all the other troubled places in your world, asking your blessing on those who are trying to restore peace and normality to people’s lives. Lord, hear us . . .

As changing weather patterns give increasing evidence of the process of climate change, we pray for the future of our planet and of all the different life forms whose home it is.

In a very complex situation, may all people realize the seriousness of the implications of climate change, understand that we all depend on each other, and resolve to do what they can to combat the threat. Lord, hear us . . .

We pray for the people most severely affected by the Covid crisis. We remember before you those who have lost dear ones, those who have suddenly lost their jobs, and those who are worried that their jobs may be under threat. We pray for people who are finding it impossible to keep up their rent and mortgage payments, and so face having their homes repossessed. Keep them from despair, make your presence felt, help them and all of us to believe that you are with us, and will remain with us whatever griefs, tragedies and crises may befall us. Lord . . .

December 27 2020 (RCL readings—as for the Presentation)

Today we remember how Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to dedicate him to God.

Lord, give us grace to dedicate ourselves and our whole lives to you.

Lord, in your mercy. . . hear our prayer.

Today we remember how faithful Simeon and Anna recognised Jesus for who he truly is, the Holy One of God and the Light to bring light to all the nations upon earth. Help us to recognise Jesus when he comes to us in prayer and sacrament, and in our encounters with other people. Increase your love in us, so that we see you in everyone we meet, and serve you by serving one another.

Lord . . .

The prophetess Anna was of a great age, yet she did not hesitate to speak about Jesus to everyone that was looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Grant Lord, that as we get older, we may remain steadfast in our faith and speak about Jesus to those around us.

Lord . . .

We give thanks for all the people who came to our Christmas services, and pray that some of them may be inspired by what they experienced and join us in regular worship. And we ask you to give us all the grace to persevere in our faith.

Lord . . .

As the year ends, we give thanks for the many blessings which you have bestowed on us during this last year . . .

Lord, your name is Immanuel, the with-us-God. As we look into the future, we ask you to help us to believe that you are with us and will remain with us whatever griefs, tragedies and crises may befall us. Lord . . .