Pastoral Prayer
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Faithful God, as we reflect on this past year, we are grateful for your light of hope that guided us through the difficult, uncertain, and challenging times; your light of love that reminded us that nothing can ever separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord; your light of joy where we experienced your presence just when we needed it the most; and your light of peace that calmed us during our times of anxiety and fear. Thank you for each of these Advent Candles of hope, love, joy, and peace.
God of new beginnings, we also thank you for the Christ Candle for when the carols have been stilled, when the star-topped tree is taken down, when family and friends are gone home, when we are back to our schedules, remind us that this is when the real work of Christmas begins: To be welcoming to all, To help bring healing a world of so much need, To feed the hungry, To build bridges of trust, To share our gifts, To seek justice and peace for all people, and To bring Christ’s light to the world.
Hear our prayers this day for all who are on our hearts and minds and with those on our prayer list. We pray that your healing, guiding, restoring, and strengthening presence will be with them this day and into the new year.
As we travel with the Wise Men to Bethlehem this week in celebration of Epiphany, may your star of wonder, star of light, guide us to your perfect light. We pray this in the name of the newborn King, Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is in his name, that we pray together…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
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