Prayer of Examen for a New Year

Here’s a contemplative prayer for the New Year from John W. Vest’s website (see link below). The prayer was inspired by Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life. 

Prayer for the New Year

God of wisdom and truth,
at the beginning of this new year
we look back and we look forward.

In the year that has passed
we experienced joy and we experienced sorrow;
we felt blessed and we felt challenged.
Some things went by much too fast,
and some things lingered for far too long.

Here in this place
we are reminded that you are present through it all.
We are reminded that we are never alone.
We are reminded that nothing can separate us from your love.

So at the beginning of this new year,
we pause now in silence
to reflect on the year that has passed.

We remember the things from this past year that we are most thankful for.
We recall the moments we were the happiest.
We consider the times we felt most alive.

We recognize the times we gave and received the most love.

(silence)

We are grateful, God, that you were present in those times.

We also remember the things from this past year that we are least thankful for.
We recall the moments we were the least happy.
We consider the times we felt life draining from us.
We recognize the times we gave and received the least love.

(silence)

We are grateful, God, that you were present in those times too.

Gracious God,
at the beginning of this new year,
we also look forward to the year to come.
We are confident that you will be with us still,
when we are thankful and when we are not;
when we are happy and when we are sad;
when we feel alive and when we feel drained;
when we give and receive love and when we do not.

God, the world we live in is messy and challenging,
it is the world of King Herod,
a world of pain,
a world of doubt,
a world of fear,
a world of jealousy,
a world of violence,
a world of domination,
a world of injustice,
a world of human failings.

Yet, God, you are with us always.
So give us grace and give us courage
to live faithfully in this imperfect world.
Remind us always of the promise of your kingdom,
emerging around us and through us.
It is for this kingdom that we now pray,
using the words Jesus taught us.

Our Father…

~ written by John W. Vest and posted on John Vest. http://johnvest.com/

Prayers of the People: New Year

Here’s a prayer of intercession for the New Year from John W. Vest.

Prayer of Intercession for the New Year

Holy God,
at this dawn of a new year,
the dawn of a new decade,
we are gathered together to worship and listen—
listen for your voice calling us to something new.

In the wake of Advent, Christmas, and the turn of the new year,
some of us are still hopeful and full of expectation;
some of us are weary and worn;
some of us are overwhelmed and anxious.

But as sure as the sun rises,
a new year is upon us,
full of possibilities, full of promise.

You are a God of newness and change,
and you call us to be continually transformed.

In this season of resolve,
help us to be mindful and intentional about our priorities.
Help us to look to Jesus as our way;
help us to rely on the Spirit to follow, in our faith and in our doubt.

Inspire us with a vision of the world as it could be,
a world closer to your intentions and desires,
a world of abundance and plenty,
a world of peace and security,
a world of cooperation and prosperity,
a world of health and well-being,
a world of love and justice.

In some ways it’s easy,
at the beginning of a new year,
to be idealistic and zealous,
to be bold in our dreams and resolutions.
So God, we ask that you help us to be patient and disciplined,
persistent and steady throughout the entire year.
May we not too quickly fall back into familiar habits and patterns,
may we not lose hope or vision,
may we be your kingdom people each and every day of this new year.

God, even as we hope and dream of a better world,
even as we make plans to be better people,
we are mindful of the realities that face us right now.
So we ask for healing and wholeness for those who are sick;
we seek comfort for those who are grieving;
we pray for companionship for those who are lonely;
we needs jobs and homes and food for those without them;
we long for peace in places of war;
we desire justice for those who are oppressed;
we want reconciliation for those who are estranged.

We are confident, God, that you will walk with us
as we strive to meet these needs;
we are confident that you will walk with us always.
Your presence among us is abiding and real;
your love fills our lives and guides our paths.

Help us, God, to not put Christmas away too quickly,
to enjoy the fullness of this season
and be transformed by the spirit of Christ in our midst.

Even now, dear God, we join our voices to his,
boldly praying for the transformation of the world
in the ever-new words of this familiar prayer.

Our Father…

~ written by John W. Vest, and posted on John Vest. http://johnvest.com/

Invitation: At the Dawn of a New Year

Here’s are gathering words (or possibly a statement of affirmation) for a New Year service. It was written by Susan Durber, and posted on the Christian Aid website.

At the Dawn of a New Year

At the dawn of a new year, 
we come to welcome hope for a new world.

Let the darkness lift, 
to welcome a dawn of plenty, 
with enough for everyone 
and people ready to share.

Let the day begin, 
with new energy for the struggle 
to protect our children 
and to care for the vulnerable.

Let the light shine, 
to open a path to safety 
for all who are seeking home 
and longing for life.

Let the sun rise 
on new talks and new resolve 
to end the bombing and the terror 
and to find solutions that will last.

At the dawn of a new year 
we come to declare our hope 
and to welcome a new world. 

~ written by Susan Durber, and posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Advent Prayer of Confession

Here’s a prayer of confession for Advent. It was written by Rev. Jan Brooks at the Cottonwood Falls Presbyterian Church.

Prayer of Confession for Advent

(inspired by Isaiah 7:14 and Luke 1:26-38)

O Holy God of Promise,

we so often place our trust in the things we can see,

and touch, and easily believe.

But you did not ask us to believe what is easy,

you have asked us to believe what is true!

Forgive us, Holy One, when we doubt the ways you work.

Forgive us when we find it hard to believe an ancient story.

Forgive us we question how you chose to enter the world,

born as one of us.

Forgive our lack of faith and belief

in ways which seem so impossible to believe.

Help us to look in faith, open our belief, and set aside our doubts

that you sent your Son, born of a virgin –

the one who has come to set us all free.

We offer these prayers in the name of your Son,

Emmanuel, God with us.  Amen.

~ written by Rev. Jan Brooks, Cottonwood Falls Presbyterian Church.

Christmas Call to Worship

Here is a responsive call to worship for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It comes from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship website.

Call to Worship for Christmas

Let us go, in heart and mind,

to see what has come to pass.

Let us go with the shepherds:
Let us go to find the Savior!
Let us go with the wise ones:
Let us go to find God's promise, born for us!
Let us go with the poor and humble:
Let us go to find our King, born in a lowly manger.
Let us go with all the world,

with all the peoples of the nations.

Come, let us worship;

come, let us adore him:
Christ the Lord!

~ from “The Gift of Joy: Isaiah 12” posted on the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship website. http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/the-gift-of-joy-isaiah-12/

Christmas Eve Call to Worship

Here’s a call to worship for Christmas Eve from Roddy Hamilton and the New Kilpatrick Parish Church website.

Call to Worship for Christmas Eve

when all has gone quiet
and the world begins to sleep
cooried in and snug
beneath a blanket of frost

when the universe holds its breath
and angels begin to stretch their wings
and stars begin to slide
into constellations of hope

when music seems to hang in the air
and creation hums its own carol
about the longing for light
and birth again from wintertime

then the waiting ones gather
to listen to these rumours
and whisper about the birth
of a child made all of light

and together pass the word
that soon and very soon
advent will slip into sign
and waiting into birth

so let us gather with ever beating hearts
staying with Mary and Joseph
wondering, labouring, longing, expecting
the promise to break through the night 

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on the New Kilpatrick Parish Church website. https://www.nkchurch.org.uk/original-liturgy 

Christmas Affirmation: Let Love Dwell Within Us

Here’s a statement of petition and commitment for Christmas from the Christian Aid website. (You could also substitute "you" for "us" and make it a closing benediction/blessing.)

Christmas Affirmation

Let the love that shaped earth and heaven

dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that created humanity

dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that overcomes suffering and hatred

dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that causes us to rejoice with loved ones

dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that forgives and renews

dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that brings reconciliation after separation

dwell within us this Christmas.

Let the love that brings the blessing of peace

dwell within us this Christmas.

And may we share that peace

with all people near and far. Amen. 

~ in Prayers for Christmas, posted on the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Christmas Eve: Call to Worship and Prayer

Here’s a responsive call to worship for late Advent.  It was written by Rev. Gord, and posted on his Worship Offerings blog.

Call to Worship, Opening Prayer

We count it in mere hours now.

Soon the first pains of labour will be felt.
Soon the Light will shine in the darkness,

soon the baby will be born.
Soon God will once again break into our lives,
coming in a way that is expected yet unusual,

challenging our expectations

and calling us to see life differently.

God of birth, God of light,

in this time of song and prayer and silence,
reawaken in us the awe of Christmas.
As we hear again the story of a young woman and a surprising visitor,
remind us that we are called to respond to you in unexpected ways.
And when we leave this place,
may we be willing to sing praises

for a young woman who said YES

and the birth that we prepare to celebrate.
We pray in the name of the child

who even now is starting to push from the womb,

who would later teach his friends to pray saying

Our Father….

~ posted by Rev Gord on his blog, Worship Offerings. http://worshipofferings.blogspot.ca/

Christmas Benediction

Here is a benediction for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It comes from the Society of Saint Andrew website.

Benediction for Christmas

The child is born! Alleluia!

Our God has come among us!

Let the whole earth rejoice!

Let us leave the manger and return to our daily routines,

knowing that we have seen the Lord,

and glorifying and praising God

for all that we have heard and seen.

Alleluia! Our God is now here!

Go forth, with full confidence and joy

that you have seen the Messiah.

Alleluia! Our God is now here!

Go forth to spread the Good News wherever you go,

sharing God’s love and promise with all whom you meet.

Go into the world to find the lost,

   heal the broken,

      feed the hungry,

         release the prisoner,

            rebuild the nations,

               bring peace among people,

                  and make music in every heart.

Alleluia! Our God is now here!

In the name of our God,

Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit,

we cry out with the angels in the heavens

and the shepherds in the fields:

Alleluia! Our God is now here! Amen. 

~ from Miracle in the Manger, posted on the Society of Saint Andrew website. http://www.endhunger.org/PDFs/2013/Advent_eBook_2013.pdf

Christmas Prayer: We Greet Your Coming

Here is an opening prayer for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It was posted on Xavier University’s Jesuit Resource website.

Opening Prayer for Christmas:

We Greet Your Coming

We greet your coming, God, with wonder:
You come to be with us;

     yet you remain far greater than we can imagine.
You are near;

     yet your wisdom sets you apart from us.
You appear among us;

     yet we cannot describe your glory.

We greet your coming, God, with repentance:
We are more-or-less satisfied with ourselves;

     but your presence exposes our sin and failure.
We are self-confident;

     but you challenge our confidence in ourselves.
We are proud of our understanding;

     but you show us that we do not know everything.

We greet your coming, God, with joy:
We had no true idea of what you are like;

     but you have shown us yourself in Jesus Christ.
We felt our human life could be of no importance to you;

     but you have shown its value by appearing among us as a man.
We are aware of the gulf between us and you;

     but you have bridged it with love. 

God, we greet your coming in Jesus Christ our Lord!

~ in Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship, ed. Caryl Micklem (London: SCM Press, 1971), 111-112. Posted on Xavier University’s JesuitResource.org website. http://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/Christmas-Prayers.cfm

Prayer of Confession: Luke 1:47-55

Here’s a prayer of confession inspired by Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:47-55. It was written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith.

Magnificat Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Luke 1:47-55)

When our spirits despair and we deny our blessedness,
Forgive us, O God.
When we ignore the mighty things you have done,
When we doubt your mercy,
Forgive us, O God.
When we are proud
in the thoughts of our hearts,
When our power rests on the oppression of others,
When our wealth causes others to go hungry,
forgive us, O God.

[silence]

Help us, your servants,

according to the promises you have made.

~  written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith. https://spaciousfaith.com/

Prayer of Illumination: Luke 1

Here is a prayer of illumination (a prayer traditionally spoken before the reading and preaching of the Word), from the Worship@North website.

Prayer of Illumination

(inspired by Luke 1:26-38)

Faithful God,

you chose Mary, full of grace,

to be the mother of our Sovereign and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Now fill us with your grace, that with her,

we may understand your ways,

rejoice in your salvation,

and embrace your will;

through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever. Amen. 

~ from a collection of prayers posted on the Worship@North website. https://northchurchindy.wordpress.com/ 

Call to Worship for Longest Night

Here is a call to worship for a Longest Night or Blue Christmas service, or (as Cheryl Lawrie puts it), “a call to worship for those for whom this Christmas comes at too much of a cost.” It was posted on [hold this space].

Call to Worship: Alleluias

It takes faith beyond imagining

to have come to hear this story

if you are living things too difficult

to be made sense of

by an ancient memory of angels and wise men.

It takes faith beyond imagining

to have come to hear this story

when you know that it will be a greater miracle

than any virgin birth

for love to be born right now in our world.

The alleluias we sing today

will not be to drown out the world’s truths that would deny them;

but to pray they will hold us in their faith.

So we gather

the bewildered, the broken hearted, the fragile and the hopeful

the faithful and the faithless

because all we have left when we stand in the world’s darkness

is this longing for love to be born once again.

~ written by Cheryl Lawrie and posted on [hold this space]. http://holdthisspace.org.au/

Prayers of the People: Blue Christmas

Here’s a prayer of petition and intercession for a Blue Christmas or Longest Night service. It was posted on The Young Clergywoman Project blog.

Prayers of the People:

Blue Christmas

In the spirit of this season

let us now confidently ask our God

for all the good things we need:

For ourselves

as we participate in this Christmas

coping with our many different losses.

God, hear our prayer.

And in your mercy, answer.

For our families and friends,

that they may continue to help and support us.

God, hear our prayer.

And in your mercy, answer.

For any person we have loved who has died,

for all the losses we know in our lives,

that all may be redeemed by your Easter promise.

God, hear our prayer.

And in your mercy, answer.

For our family and friends,

that you may bless them with love, peace, and joy.

God, hear our prayer.

And in your mercy, answer.

For peace throughout the world

as proclaimed by the Christmas Angels

on that faraway hillside.

God, hear our prayer.

And in your mercy, answer.

For greater understanding of the lessons of love and acceptance

as taught by Jesus your Christ.

God, hear our prayer.

And in your mercy, answer.

God of great compassion and love,

listen to the prayers of these your people.

Grant to all,

especially the bereaved and troubled ones this Christmas,

the blessing we ask in the name of Jesus,

who taught us to pray, 

Our Father, who art in heaven….

~ from a complete Blue Christmas liturgy (“When Christmas Hurts”) posted on The Young Clergywoman Project blog. http://youngclergywomen.org/blue-christmas-service-when-christmas-hurts/

Call to Worship: Psalm 13

Here’s a responsive call to worship inspired by Psalm 13:3-6. It comes from the Godspace website.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 13: 3-6)

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;

lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him” –

lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

We come to you O Lord,

seeking answers to our questions.
We come to you O God,

because you are the Creator.

But I have trusted your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,

because he has dealt bountifully with me.

We come looking for a song to sing;
We wait for your voice

to call us from beyond our fear.

~ from a longer “Litany for a Blue Christmas,” posted on the Godspace website. See the entire litany here: https://godspace-msa.com/2015/12/18/litany-for-a-blue-christmas/

Advent Prayer of Longing and Waiting

Here’s an advent prayer from Ann Siddall, and the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre and Faith Community.

A Prayer of Longing and Waiting

Holy One, we have waited

through many a long night,

for your coming:

like those of old our eyes

have been red from weeping,

our minds numb from anxiety,

and our hands held out in longing.

And this Advent season

sees us waiting again,

alongside our own struggles,

and alongside a world

torn apart by greed and need,

poverty and affluence,

hunger and obesity.

When will You come to us?

When will we see a star we can trust?

When will wise ones rise up in our midst?

When will humble workers see angels?

How long, O God, must we wait

for the promises to be fulfilled?

How long will You keep us waiting?

So as once more we play the waiting game,

unable to bring about the changes we seek,

unable to put an end to society’s pain,

unable to appease all the hunger,

help us to be tenacious,

unyielding in our expectation

that Christ has come, and Christ will come again. Amen. 

~ written by Ann Siddall, and posted on the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre and Faith Community website. http://stillpointsa.org.au/prayer/prayers-and-liturgies/

Invitation to the Table: Stronger than Death

Here is an invitation to the table from the Third Space website.

Invitation to the Table

We remember the time when Jesus faced
difficult decisions and destructive forces:
Facing his winter – the days and nights of his searching,
– in facing failure – in facing death

When we too experience the winter of our lives
may we find the courage to let go
and trust in your guiding, warming light.

And we remember
Jesus has shown us that life is stronger than death.

And as we share the bread and wine together
we remember the words and the actions of that ancient meal…
Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it,
and gave it to his friends.

He poured a cup of wine, offered thanks for it,
and shared it also with his friends.

Ancient symbols.

Common acts.

~ posted on Third Space. http://third-space.org.uk/

Solstice Blessing

Here’s a blessing for Solstice (the shortest day of the year) or a Blue Christmas or Christmas service. It comes from Roddy Hamilton and the New Kilpatrick Parish Church website.

Solstice Blessing

Sorrow not, the world is wrapped in sleep no longer
Sorrow not, the darkness has length no more
Sorrow not, the light is slowly creeping back
Sorrow not, birth is soon and very soon

Rejoice now, night will soon folded away
Rejoice now, the shadows will turn and shorten
Rejoice now, the time of dark is over
Rejoice now, light is coming into the world

Be now, light within the world
Be now, the curse that has closed the darkness
Be now, the release of life as light returns tomorrow
Be now, the birth place of the child of light

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on the New Kilpatrick Parish Church website. https://www.nkchurch.org.uk/original-liturgy  

Opening Invitation to Longest Night

Here is an opening for a Blue Christmas, Solstice, or Longest Nght Service. It was posted on the Third Space website.

Invitation to Longest Night

There is a winter in all of our lives,

a chill and darkness that makes us yearn
for days that have gone
or put our hope in days yet to be.

The winter, cold and bare as nature takes stock
rests, unwinds, sleeps until the time is right.
An endless cycle
and yet a perfect model.

We need a winter in our lives
a time of rest, a time to stand still
a time to reacquaint ourselves
with the faith in which we live.

It is only then that we can draw strength
from the one in whom we are rooted
take time to grow and rise through the darkness
into the warm glow of your springtime
to blossom and flourish
bring colour and vitality into this world

Thank you, God, 

for the seasons of our lives

~ adapted from  http://www.faithandworship.com/  Posted on Third Space. http://third-space.org.uk/

Prayer: On the Edge of Advent

Here’s a prayer for the start of the Advent season from Rev. Deborah Vaughn, hospice chaplain and minister in Maryland. The prayer was posted on RevGalBlogPals.

Advent Prayer

silently and gently
falling and failing
changing and resting
seeking you, Lord…

we watch
we wait
we dream
we pray…

for the earth to renew
for our hearts to soften
for your grace to cover us
for your justice to pour out
for time and space to listen
for courage to act

on the edge of Advent,
we sit with you…
we pause…
we hurt…
we repent…
we rage…

When will it be?

Will it ever be?

Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Amen.

~ written by Rev. Deborah Vaughn, a hospice chaplain endorsed by the Alliance of Baptists, and Assistant Minister at Twinbrook Baptist Church in Rockville, MD. She blogs at An Unfinished Symphony. This prayer was posted on RevGalBlogPals. https://revgalblogpals.org/2017/12/01/friday-prayer-on-the-edge-of-advent/

Pastoral Prayer: John the Baptist

Here’s a pastoral prayer inspired by the ministry of John the Baptist (Matt 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-8). It  comes from the Literature & Liturgy website.

Prayers of the People

(inspired by Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-8)

God, when the time was ripe and the hour had come,

you sent your servant John into the wilderness

to proclaim the coming of the one true Messiah:

Make way! Repent and be baptized!

For the salvation of God is at hand.

John came to bear witness to the true light,

the Messiah, the Son of God.

And he told them, wake up!

Watch and wait,

for the hour is near when the Son of God will arise.

God, on this second Sunday of Advent

we have heard your servant crying out to us in the wilderness.

We have heard the call to repentance and restoration,

and we want to respond.

We have heard that you are offering forgiveness of sins,

and we want to hear your mercy spoken over us.

We have heard that you are baptizing with water,

and with the Holy Spirit and with fire:

cleanse us and make us new.

We have heard that you are ushering in a reign of peace,

and we want to see your kingdom when it comes.

God, our sins are many, but your mercy is great.
Our vision is dim, but your coming is at hand.
Our hope is feeble, but your promises stand forever.

God, your world stands in need of you.

Everywhere we look we see need of you:

for your coming, your restoration,

your peace, your transformation.

On this second Sunday of advent

we pray for the nations to know your truth and your light.

We pray for the poor, the hungry, and the needy.

We pray for those who are spiritually hungry and poor in spirit:

may they come to know the living water,

and to drink deeply from your well.

We pray for those who face Christmas alone,

or sick, or homeless, or destitute:

Jesus Christ, Light from true Light,

be a light in the darkness.

(Prayers of the people)

God, the hour of your coming again draws near.

Make us ready: in our hearts, in our minds, in our souls.

Lord Jesus Christ, come to us again this Advent.

Come and do not tarry.

Even so, come Lord Jesus! Amen.

~ posted on Literature & Liturgy. https://jesusscribbles.wordpress.com/