DecEMBER PRAYERS
Submitted by Linda
Hush the Noise’ Is the theme for Advent that we and other Methodists are following this
year, so it seems appropriate to begin this month by quoting from the Methodist church
website with an introduction to the theme and a prayer:
Christmas is loud, isn’t it? So much expectation. So many voices.
Telling us how to celebrate, what to wear,
what to eat and drink, what to watch and what to buy.
Instead, this Christmas we’re inviting everyone to hush the noise.
To listen for the love song that the angels bring, this and every year.
They sang it for the first time more than 2,000 years ago,
on the midnight clear. They’re just waiting for us to join in.
Advent dawns with lights strung high and music everywhere;
Sights and smells abound around,
Senses assaulted and confused,
O hush the noise,
Let’s hear the angels sing.
Amid the lists and cards and gifts,
Amid the pleas and “please can we”,
Amid the chaos of the world,
O hush the noise,
Let’s hear the angels sing.
Let’s seek to see and seek to hear.
Let’s seek to feel and seek to know.
Let’s seek to find peace and love.
O hush the noise,
Let’s hear the angels sing.
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You can also sign up for daily meditations throughout Advent at www.methodist.org.uk
Advent is here
Lord, Advent is here, but so is family tension.
Advent is here, so are dysfunctional relationships.
Advent is here, but so are old habits.
Advent is here, but gone are people we love.
Advent is here, but old baggage still exists.
Advent is here, but fears surface.
God says, "I see all that; I can handle all that."
God says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
God says, "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you.
I do not give it as the world does.
Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid."
God says, "Tell everyone who is discouraged, 'Be strong and don’t be afraid!
God iscoming to your rescue'"
What looks unscalable, God will boost me over
What seems unbearable, God will bring me through. What can't be managed,
God will say,
"Let down your guard and I will guard you." Amen.
~ by Kelly Balarie
a prayer, based on Galatians 4:4 from Barnabas Aid
Heavenly Father, as we begin this Advent season, we thank You that you sent Your Son to become flesh and live among us at exactly the right time.
We pray that You will inspire us in this precious season with the wonder of His birth,
His life, His sacrificial death for our sins
and His glorious resurrection .
Please enable people experiencing daily persecution for their faith to draw strength as they reflect on You.
We ask You to help us all to understand more fully the enormity of Your most magnificent gift, the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whose Name we pray .Amen
light shines in dark places
Loving Lord ,We look forward to Christmas with family and friends, enjoying happy times, good food andcomfort – the perfect Christmas card picture.
But this is not a perfect world.
Some of us will be grieving the loss of loved ones and missing their presence.
Lord may Your light shine in dark places.
Some of us will look forward with fear to time spent with family because of how they are treated.
Lord, may Your light shine in dark places.
We expect to experience an attitude of ‘peace and goodwill’ to all. But this is not a peaceful world.
Some of us will be away from loved ones who are involved in the wars.
Some of us will have been displaced because of wars. Many are in refugee camps, not knowing if or when we will be able to go home
Lord, may Your light shine in dark places.
We expect to go to bed on Christmas Day well fed and sheltered from the winter weather.But this world doesn’t offer equality to all people.
Some of us will spend Christmas Night on the streets, cold, hungry and lonely.
Lord, may Your light shine in dark places.
Lord, help us to remember all suffering people.
Move us to do all that we can wherever You send us. Help us to live our lives in your strength.
We ask this is Your Holy Name. Amen
‘Hush the Noise’
To end this month, we return to the theme
‘Hush the Noise’,
with the third verse of the hymn
‘It came upon the midnight clear’
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong:
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring.
O hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing!
I wish you all every blessing at Christmas
and would welcome your contributions to our prayers for the New Year.
Linda
Let us go forth into the world in peace and dedicated to Your service, O Lord.
Let us hold fast to that which is good, render to no person evil for evil, strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the needy and the afflicted, and honour all people.
Let us love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of His Spirit.
And may God’s blessing be upon us and remain with us always.
Amen.
LOOP SYSTEM
There's a loop system installed in the Church and in the Lounge.