This week we are asked to pray:
Prayers for the week from Roots on the web On this Advent Sunday, we come. We come with many different emotions. We come with awareness that Christmas is approaching. For some that will be a time of great joy, for others a time of stress and busyness. We come to you knowing that the world is full of tinsel, glitter and mindless music played on a loop, but we yearn to see your face in the midst of all the preparations. We want to look to the future because you have gone ahead into it for us. We may not wish it could be Christmas every day, but we do recognise that the real truth of Christmas is with us every day: that God came into the world to redeem us. So, however we feel today, help us to find you, not in the razzmatazz, but in the quietness of the stable. Be awake, be ready, be prepared: our king is coming at an unexpected hour. Lord, we know how much preparation we need to do before Christmas. There will be cards to write, presents to buy, food to purchase, invitations to be made. We are so aware that all this ‘stuff’ sometimes gets in the way. We are also aware that, for so many this year, their normal Christmas will be affected by the cost of living. Help us all to see that the truth of Christmas is not related to things and wealth but the poverty of God in the manger. Be awake, be ready, be prepared: our king is coming at an unexpected hour. At this Advent time, in all that we do, help us to keep our eyes and ears open to see You among us. We pray that we will find you in the face of friend and stranger. That we will worship you in among all the fun and family time. We pray that we will be your compassionate hands and feet and lips to those around us who are hurting, afraid, homeless, lonely and overwhelmed. O come, O come Emmanuel and make us fit to serve you. Be awake, be ready, be prepared: our king is coming at an unexpected hour. Lord, we bring to you all those we know who are making preparations this week: those revising for exams, those preparing for operations or medical procedures, those arranging to travel to new or unfamiliar places, those preparing for a birth… or a death. Lord, please be present, be Emmanuel, to all these people… some known to us, but all known to you. Give diligence in the working, patience in the waiting, courage in the unfamiliar situations, your presence at the ends and the beginnings. Help everyone to be alert to your presence in every situation they face. And help us all to keep our eyes firmly fixed on you, whatever we are experiencing in the weeks to come. Be awake, be ready, be prepared: our king is coming at an unexpected hour. Lord, Emmanuel, we know we can only be fully prepared for life if we are fully focussed on you. Keep us from distractions, we pray. Help us to find creative ways to learn more about you and deepen our relationship with you even within the old, familiar stories. Help us also to be prepared to step away from the familiar into new things… following where you lead as you challenge us to become closer to you. Be awake, be ready, be prepared: our king is coming at an unexpected hour. Lord, prepare our hearts. Help our eyes to be open to see you. Teach us to be ready for everything you ask of us this week. Give us eyes and ears to see where your kingdom is coming around us and to join you as you work in our world. Be awake, be ready, be prepared: our king is coming at an unexpected hour. Lord, come to our hearts, our homes, our world and help us to be ready to find you. Amen