Today’s prayers come from John Birch’s new book The Act of Prayer
Scripture:
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16: Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Luke 1:46-55; Romans 16:25-27;
Opening Prayer:
Through our worship today,
bring us nearer,
in our Advent journeying,
to Bethlehem’s stable,
expectation and celebration.
Adoration
We will sing of your love for ever,
and proclaim your faithfulness to every generation,
for your word is dependable, your promises secure.
A child is to be born within one nation but for all nations.
Our God will be revealed,
the Son of David born in humility.
Love will come down to earth
as servant-king and vulnerable.
We will sing of your love for ever,
and proclaim your faithfulness to every generation,
for by grace incomparable our salvation is here.
Confession
As we celebrate the gift of love within a manger
and remember that Jesus Christ came for our salvation,
forgive us,
if our hearts are cold and faith is hard to find.
Bring us back to the mother,
Mary, who bore the child who would be king.
Remind us of her gentleness,
her faithfulness when asked to be
the blessed one through whom
the divine would walk upon this earth.
Oh, that we should demonstrate such faith!
Thanksgiving
When you come to us
with gentle whisper or mighty wind,
and ask what seems impossible to human minds,
as you did with Mary,
may our response not be to hesitate,
make excuses or run away.
but to echo instead those trusting and beautiful words,
‘I am the Lord’s servant;
may your word be fulfilled in me.’
For Mary’s faithfulness
and her life of service
we thank you, Lord.