Daily Prayer – Dec 2
(Download PDF of Dec 02 Guided Daily Prayer)
Setting aside even a brief time each day to pray helps us create a stable spiritual center in our lives. This guided prayer is largely based on the Morning, Noon and Evening Prayer cycle found in the Book of Common Prayer.
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Online Text Version
INSTRUCTIONS: The underlined text are headings and do not need to be read. [Brackets] are instructions to be followed but not necessarily read. FOR INDIVIDUAL PRAYER:I suggest you read the prayer sheet aloud, but reading silently is fine too. FOR GROUP PRAYER: have one person act as leader. The leader reads the regular print and everyone reads the Bold Italic Type together.
Daily Prayer for – 1st Thursday of Advent
Opening Sentences:
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.ff
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke…’The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” (Matthew 3:1-3 excerpted)
Praying Together:
Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,
And steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. (Psalm 62:11)
Amen.
Confession:
Dear Creator in heaven, we come into your presence as imperfect, sinful children, who do many foolish things and who are involved in much that is evil and corrupt.
We come to you, O God, knowing that your unlimited love is with us through all eternity. Be gracious to us and free us from all the harm and injury we are bound to suffer in this earthly life.
May the grace your kingdom brings on earth finally blot out the sins of all people, so that as your children they may rejoice because you have helped them. May your name be praised among all people. Amen**
Based on Psalm 126:
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy;
Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
[Silent Prayer; or Music may be listened to; or a Hymn is sung.]
Prayers of the People:
God of restoration and hope, we pray that you restore to wholeness those who are broken and weary.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. [Silent Prayer]
God of laughter and joy, give us small joys and belly laughs during this time of waiting for your incarnation.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. [Silent Prayer]
Heavenly Creator, in this time of joy and fellowship comfort those who experience neither during this time.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. [Silent Prayer]
We pray for your love to be manifest in all the earth dear Lord. Vanquish hatred and replace it with your unconditional love. Vanquish retribution and vengeful thoughts and replace them with your understanding, mercy and forgiveness.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. [Silent Prayer]
Hear our prayer O Lord as we pray together:
Our Father, 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Closing prayer:
Draw us closer to you, dear Lord, remembering John the Baptist whose purpose it was to make the path straight for Jesus the Christ. Help us to discover our own purpose in your kingdom.
Amen.
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*Missionstclare.com
ff From Book of Common Prayer, p. 211, Collects for Advent. .
**Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, www.dailydig.com?
Music Selection from The Hymnal Project
Special thanks to Rev. Wendy Depew Partelow, Vice President of the American Baptist Churches of New York State Board of Missions for her invaluable help in preparing the daily prayers and writing potions of the material.
Also thank you to www.missionstclare.com, a longstanding online project that helps people pray the daily offices of the Book of Common Prayer. It is a wonderful tool to help you deepen your prayer life. They also have a very convenient cell phone App!