Here’s a prayer of intercession for the fourth Sunday of Advent. It was written by Margaret Appleton.
Prayer of Intercession for Advent
Good and gracious Lord, as we meet together to worship you, we pray that you will grant us a glimpse of your glory so that we may rejoice in your presence and abide in your peace.
Lord Jesus, we remember at this time that you came to disturb the world, and to turn the lives of humankind to God.
You brought
love to those who were unloved
hope to those who had nothing to look forward to
peace to those who were full of anxious daily cares.
hope to those who had nothing to look forward to
peace to those who were full of anxious daily cares.
But you also brought judgment
to those who thought they were good
to those who were content with their own lives:
to those who looked down on other people and who were sure that they knew everything about God.
to those who were content with their own lives:
to those who looked down on other people and who were sure that they knew everything about God.
We pray that you will come into our lives at this time to turn us all again to you: to help to see ourselves as we really are and to remove from each one of us all that is unworthy so that we may truly share in your kingdom and know the joy of your loving presence.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, we pray that you will prepare us for your coming into the world:
that in these difficult economic times you will drive away despair from our politics
that you will revive our dreams of justice and restore our passion for what is right, good and true.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, we pray that you will prepare us for your coming into the world:
that in these difficult economic times you will drive away despair from our politics
that you will revive our dreams of justice and restore our passion for what is right, good and true.
May your love motivate our care for this neighbourhood and for the wider community and help us all to play a part in helping to overcome the social ills that drag so many into despair.
We pray that your love will inspire our citizenship so that it rises above the mediocre.
Too often we have been silent and missed opportunities to share with others the message of love which you brought into the world and we ask that you will give us all an unquestioning faith, the deep faith of Mary and show us a new way to live, so that, with your forgiveness and with an awareness of your presence, we can truly claim to follow you in thought and word and deed.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, as we complete this last hectic week before the celebration of your birth, we pray that you will give us eyes to search the face of the stranger and there see your face. Give us the sensitivity to hear the doubt and hesitation and with that person share their confusions and concerns. There are those whom we know who are ill at this time; in despair or struggling to handle their pain. We pray for them now for you come to us in them and you ask for our love. We give that now as we name them and love them in our hearts…. What we have promised in love and prayer let us never forget to do.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, Our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— written by Margaret Appleton, posted on the thisischurch website. Abridged slightly. Visit that site to see the original version.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, as we complete this last hectic week before the celebration of your birth, we pray that you will give us eyes to search the face of the stranger and there see your face. Give us the sensitivity to hear the doubt and hesitation and with that person share their confusions and concerns. There are those whom we know who are ill at this time; in despair or struggling to handle their pain. We pray for them now for you come to us in them and you ask for our love. We give that now as we name them and love them in our hearts…. What we have promised in love and prayer let us never forget to do.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, Our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— written by Margaret Appleton, posted on the thisischurch website. Abridged slightly. Visit that site to see the original version.
