UPDATE 20th December

Are you ready?  Cards written & posted? Presents bought & wrapped? Christmas tree decorated? Turkey & mince pies bought? In the busyness of this advent season do you have time to spare a thought for what it’s all about?

Our focus for prayer for a day this month has been on the Hope, Peace, Joy and Love that only Jesus can bring.

Love came down at Christmas time!  Let us sit at the manger scene and ask:

What can I give Him poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.

If I were a wise man I would do my part,

Yet what can I give Him, give Him my heart.

ADVENT PRAYER

Circle us, Lord

Circle us with the light of your presence, bright within this dark world.

Enable us to be overcomers of fear and temptation.

Enable us to become victors over sin and despair.

Enable us to become that which you would desire.

Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation,

Circle us with the light of your presence.

Circle us, Lord

Circle our family within the shelter of your outstretched arms.

Protect them in each moment of their daily lives.

Protect them in the decisions that they face.

Protect their homes and relationships.

Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation,

Circle our families with the light of your presence.

Circle us, Lord

Circle this nation with Advent love and hope.

Create a desire to listen to the Advent message.

Create a willingness to understand and respond.

Create a need to reach out to the Christ Child.

Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation,

Circle our nation with the light of your presence.

Circle us, Lord

Circle this world with the joy of your Salvation.

Where there is sickness and disease bring healing.

Where there is hunger and despair bring hope.

Where there is torture and oppression bring release.

Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation,

Circle this world with the light of your presence.

Update 6th December 2012

Apologies for the lack of updates on the prayer blog – but be assured we are still praying!  We have continued to pray for those who need healing in a special way & trust that God will answer our prayers.  We give thanks for the unity that continues to grow in our Christian community. We praise God for His continued blessing and provision.

In the busyness of this Advent season, we commit to putting aside time to kneel before our Lord, to wait in His presence, to listen to His voice, to be filled with His Spirit and then to go out and take His light to our needy world.

Scriptures to meditate on:

             In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.  (John 1 : 1-5.)

            The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; ….For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.             (Isaiah 9: 2 & 6.)