Daily Prayer – December 15
(Download PDF For Today’s Daily Prayer Guide)
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. (Parentheses) are references and not to be read. FOR INDIVIDUAL PRAYER: I suggest you read the prayer sheet aloud, but reading silently is fine too. Don’t pay any attention to the Bold Italic Type. 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 December 13
Opening Sentences:
God of joy and exultation, you strengthen what is weak; you enrich the poor and give hope to those who live in fear. God of joy…look upon our needs this day.
Make us grateful for the good news of salvation and keep us faithful in your service until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives for ever and ever. ff
From the Prophet Malachi: Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse. (Malachi 4:5-6)
And from the Gospel of Mark: Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He said to them, “Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things…But I tell you Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.” (Mark. 9:11-12, 130
Praying Together:
Lord, open our lips.
Our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Confession: (St. Augustine*)
O Lord, the house of my soul is narrow; enlarge it that thou may enter in.
It is ruinous, O repair it!
It displeases your sight; I confess it, I know.
But who shall cleanse it, or to whom shall I cry but unto you?
Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord, and spare your servant from strange sins.
From Psalm 125:
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore.
[Silent Prayer; or Music may be listened to; or a Hymn is sung.]
Prayers of the People:
Almighty God, we pray for unity in our nation and in the world around us.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. [Silent Prayer]
Heavenly Father, grant that all may hear your word in this season of holiness and be transformed by your grace.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. [Silent Prayer]
We pray for justice and peace, dear Lord, and goodwill toward all humankind.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. [Silent Prayer]
We thank you Lord, for the many blessings you have bestowed upon us. Keep us mindful of those who need still to hear of your unconditional love, your tender mercy and your unmerited grace.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. [Silent Prayer]
And now, gracious Lord, hear our prayer 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:
May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. Now go in peace to love and to serve the Lord, now and forevermore. Amen.
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Sources
ff From Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, Consultation on Common Texts.
*Job & Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers & Other Servants, p. 39
Image: “Celebration” by John August Swanson, . http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56538. Original source: www.JohnAugustSwanson.com – © 1997 by John August Swanson.
Music Selection from The Hymnal Project
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