Advent Intercessions

Here’s a prayer of intercession suitable for use during the Advent season.  It comes from the thisischurch website.   

Prayers of the People for Advent

Heavenly Father, as once again we prepare for Christmas, help us to find time in our busy lives for quiet and thought and prayer, that we may reflect upon the wonder of your love and allow the story of the Saviour’s birth to penetrate our hearts and minds. So may our joy be deeper, our worship more real, and our lives worthier of all that you have done for us through the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We pray for the church:
  • For the wider Christian family who will be celebrating this festival in so many different ways, and for those who dare not celebrate openly.
  • For Christians in countries where there is persecution.
  • For Christians in our own country, with whom we will share our celebrations
  • For our Church family.
Grant that all who come into our church this Christmas time may be enabled to renew their relationship with you. Help us all to be glad of your presence, and to rejoice at the coming of Jesus.

May your blessing be upon all who worship with us, give us grace to live as faithful members of your family, that we may learn each day afresh to love and serve you

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for peace:
  • Give peace to the world
  • Give peace to the victims of war, the refugees, the widowed and the orphans.
  • Give peace to family and friends; to those who have quarreled and need to be reconciled.
  • Give peace in our own divided hearts.
We know that without justice there can be no peace. Let peace come when all people are respected, regardless of race and religion. Let peace come when trading weapons of mass destruction is a crime. Let peace come when the earth’s resources are used wisely for the common good. Let peace come when money is used to serve and not enslave the world. Let peace come through the transformation of our lives that we may do justice, love and kindness and walk humbly with our God.

Your Son came as the Prince of Peace and brought a message of Peace for all people. Help us to be peacemakers in our own homes, at our work or wherever we meet people, so that the peace and goodwill of Christmas can find a place in the hearts of all people.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

We pray for homeless people and for refugees who have no country to call their own. Let your blessing be with those who work to help the homeless this Christmas, and give to all of us the determination to help where we can.

We pray for people who are lonely, those who are lonely because they have lost a partner, those who are lonely because no-one seems to care, those who are lonely because of handicap or illness. Let your presence be with those who are alone at this season of friendship and may we take your friendship to those whom we know will be alone this Christmas.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for friends and family who are ill at this time, and remember them in the quietness of our hearts. We bring them to you in the confidence that you love them and know their every need and that your healing power is still the same today. Bless all that is being done for their recovery and answer our prayers as you see best

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen

— posted on the thisischurch website.  Abridged slightly.  Visit their site to see the original prayer. 

For more worship resources for the season of Advent, see this index of Advent Worship Resourcesor click on Advent 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page. 

For more prayer resources on this blog, click on Prayers in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see the Scriptural Prayers index or Topical Prayer index at the upper right.