Some Prayers/ Intercessions for 4th Sunday of Advent Year B – 20th December 2020

“Prayer is a plant, the seed of which is sown in the heart of every Christian.
If it is well cultivated and nourished it will produce fruit, but if it is neglected,
it will wither and die.”

Jesus is alive.
Love has won the victory over evil and death.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, we know that you love us;
we know that you provide for us;
we know that in Jesus Christ you have given yourself to us as Saviour.
We have heard in the gospel of today how Mary said ‘yes’ to you in faith and became the mother of your son Jesus.

As we bring our prayers to you, Father,
we thank you for your son, Jesus, who alone brings salvation into our lives.
Like Mary, help us to open our hearts to your grace so that we too, like Mary, can say ‘yes’ to your holy will for us and testify to Jesus by our lives.

(Pause…)        Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the Church…

Mighty and Loving God, we pray for your Church today, gathering worldwide in churches, chapels and cathedrals, to praise you and to hear your holy word. Give us a sense of expectation as we come and inspiration as we go.

(Pause…)        Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the world stuck by coronavirus…

Jesus Christ, you travelled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.”
At your command, the sick were made well.
Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus,
that we may experience your healing love.

We pray for those who are persecuted for their faith…

Let us remember our brothers and sisters persecuted for their Christian faith in Iraq, in Afghanistan, Iran and elsewhere; let us pray that we as Christians in this country can stand up for our faith and hope in Jesus Christ, saviour and healer of our hearts and lives, let us pray to the Lord.

(Pause…)        Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the homeless and the poor…

As winter creeps in slowly and cold weather begins, we pray for the homeless and the poor and we pledge ourselves to do all we can for them, either as individually or as a Church; we also pray for those who are unemployed or distressed in any way. Father, look with mercy on your people; help us truly, as you told us in the Word of God, to “bring good news to the oppressed. Bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners and to proclaim the hear of the Lord’s favour. Let us in a moment of silence pray for God’s grace to reach out to the poor in our midst.

(Pause…)        Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those in need…

Let us pray for our dear ones and friends who are ill or in need of our spiritual, moral and emotional support; let us especially pray for our dear ones in our own fellowship who are in need of our support, friendship and prayer, especially remember Diana, Mel, Valerie, Paul, Margaret Allen, Jean, Jo, Roy, Claire Scourse, Matt, Jennifer, Christina and others we know of. Comfort and heal them, give them courage and hope in their troubles and bring them the joy of your saving love.

(Pause…)        Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

And we pray for ourselves…

(after a silent, longer pause …) 

Father,
we feel loved,
we feel forgiven,
we feel saved.

Thank you for Jesus Christ your Son
who died for us on the cross
and rose again from the dead
and who offers us
true peace and true hope.

Help us to hold on to him
and to follow him
the way, the truth and the life
as we entrust you our prayers
in the name of your Son Jesus Christ.

Amen.

[Revd Dr ST Mattapally, Rector, Springline Parish, Diocese of Lincoln]