St Mary's Church, Mudford

Intercessions

                                                  Prayers of Intercession written by a member of our Benefice

Second Sunday of Advent, 8th December 2024

A Prayer for Advent

Advent: In this season of expectation, we prepare to welcome Jesus
into the bustle of our lives, and those elusive moments of solitude.
We prepare to welcome Jesus into our homes and communities along with friends and families.
We prepare to welcome Jesus into our hearts, and those often hidden parts of our lives.
We prepare to welcome you, Jesus - For beneath the surface of your story
is the inescapable fact that you entered this world as vulnerable as any one of us in order to nail that vulnerability to the cross.
Our fears, our insecurities and our sins; all that can separate us from God
exchanged by your Grace for Love.
We cannot comprehend it, but only marvel that Salvation comes to us
through a baby born in a stable, and reaches out to a world in need.

To you O Lord we bring our lives: Troubled, broken or at ease
a sacrificial offering, for you to use.
Take away our selfishness, and teach us to love as you loved.
Take away our sense of pride, and show us the meaning of humility.
Take away our blindness, and show us the world through your eyes
Take away our greed, and teach us how to give as you gave
Show us your ways, Teach us your paths
That we might walk with you more closely
Our hand in your hand
Our feet in your footsteps
From the baby in a stable
To eternity,

Amen

A prayer for ourselves

 Lord, we pray for our benefice, for our wardens, for those who minister to us, for our five congregations, and for the communal lives of our villages.

 Deepen our communion one with another in Christ, and grant that through your Spirit continually working in us we may understand you better, and learn to love our brothers and sisters in the way that you have shown us.  

Amen.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our saviour, Jesus Christ,

Amen