Prayers for the Week of December 19, 2021

Please feel free to join us in the prayers we prayer in worship, Sunday, December 19, 2021:

Holy Christ,

present with us now,

and always on the way –

In this Advent season,

we wait for you

knowing, that you

come toward your people with hope,

hope of your new creation,

birthed in the Christ,

and alive in us.

You come toward your people in peace,

bringing down the powers that oppress,

and lifting up those pushed down low,

so that everyone is made whole.

You come toward your people in joy,

with a song of liberation, healing, and grace.

You come toward your people in love,

your love and tender mercy,

saving the world from everything that does us harm.

Knowing that you have accompanied your creation from the beginning,

that you are here, now,

and that you are always on the way,

we bring to you the cares of a hurting world.

We pray for a world wrapped in yet another wave of pandemic,

for healing,

for wisdom to do what we can do to keep each other safe,

for strength to sojourn together in love

through these challenging days.

We pray for the dismantling of all the systems that oppress,

and particularly the systems of American racism,

help us to see the work that is ours to do

to dismantle and repair,

so that every child of yours can live and thrive.

We pray for all who are ailing in body or spirit – for healing,

for those who mourn – comfort,

for those who are hungry – enough food for every one of your children,

for those who are unhoused or living in insecurity – safety and shelter,

for those who are lonely – companionship,

for those still staggering in the wake of tornadoes –

support, comfort, and care.

Lifting those concerns,

we also ask that you open our hearts

so that we might see the ways that we can help to bring

your bring your justice, healing, and peace –

help us,

in the lives we live,

embrace your love and tender mercy,

and share that with each other,

and a world in need.

In community, with all creation,

with all those who have ever called your name,

we join our prayers with theirs,

praying the prayer that Jesus taught, saying:

Our Father/Mother, 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.