(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 19

Opening Sentences:

O God of Elizabeth and Mary,

you visited your servants with news of the world’s redemption

in the coming of the Savior. ^ff

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.  Surely, from now on all generations will call be blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me and holy is his name. (Luke 1:46-49)

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*)

Late have I loved you, beauty so ancient and so new! Late have I loved you.

You were  within me, and I stood without.  I sought you here, hurling my ugly self on the beauty of your creatures.

You were with me, but I was not with you.

You have called me, your cry has vanquished my deafness.  You have shown me, your cry has vanquished my blindness.

You have broadcast your perfume, and I have breathed it; now I sigh for you.

I have tasted you, and now I hunger for you. 

You have touched me, and now I burn with desire for your peace.

Amen.

From Psalm 96:

O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the lord, all the earth.  Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.[

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.  For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.

Silent Prayer; or Music may be listened to; or a Hymn is sung.]

Payers of the People:

Heavenly Father:

We pray the hope of your Son be known in all the world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.  [Silent Prayer]

We pray your gentleness be known in all the world.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.  [Silent Prayer]

We pray your peace be known in all the world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. [Silent Prayer]

We pray your love be known in all the world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.  [Silent Prayer]

We pray the joy of your presence be known in all the world.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. [Silent Prayer]

In your mercy Lord, hear our prayers.   Amen.

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:

Now as we move into our day, dear Jesus,  clothe us in your flesh, and bring us ever closer to you..  Guide as we celebrate your coming, Emmanuel, and help us to be you, bringing your hope, peace, joy and love to our community, our nation, and the world we live in.  Amen.

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Sources:

^ff From Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, Consultation on Common Texts

*Job and Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for All God’s People, p. 43

Image: From Church of El SitiVisitation, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56718 [retrieved December 20, 2021]. Original source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/johndonaghy/22885862/ – John Donaghy.

Music Selection from The Hymnal Project

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