Almighty God, Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, giver of the Holy Spirit, we gather to thank you for the gift of Christmas and for Advent, the season of preparation. With every week the lights grow brighter, our anticipation heightens and our attention sharpens. We affirm that the Spirit of the Lord God is upon us: because the Lord has anointed us. (Isaiah 61:1)
We are looking to you, the Mighty One, who has done great things. Teach us to worship you. Show us what it means for our souls to magnify the Lord. Instruct our spirits in what it means to rejoice in God our Savior. (Luke 1:47-49) For you have done great things for us and we are filled with joy. (Psalm 126:3) You have clothed us with the garments of salvation and covered us with the robe of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10)
We affirm that the Spirit of the Lord God is upon us: because the Lord has anointed us.
As the Son of God was formed in Mary’s womb, so we bless you because your Spirit is forming His life within us for the sake of the World. In a time of unparalleled prosperity, we come before you to pray for the poor. Across the world, countless millions of children roam the streets in search of their next meal. We stand in your presence now on their behalf. In our own community we witness some of the worst poverty of all: lonliness. Make us to be good news to them. We take our stand with them now.
We affirm that the Spirit of the Lord God is upon us: because the Lord has anointed us.
We remember the brokenhearted, those whose loved ones have been lost to the hatred of war, the violence of disease, the injustice of death. As those among us stand, receive it as prayer and bind up their brokenness with our love.
We affirm that the Spirit of the Lord God is upon us: because the Lord has anointed us.
As your anointed, we plead for release to the captives. For many of our brothers and sisters around the world, the Gospel has meant persecution and captivity. By your Spirit, cause some among us to stand now as prayer for their release and reward. We pray for friends and loved ones in our midst who have become prisoners in webs of addiction. Make our standing on their behalf to become the seeds of your deliverance, the planting of the Lord, to display your glory. (Isaiah 61:3)
We affirm that the Spirit of the Lord God is upon us: because the Lord has anointed us.
Give these for whom we pray a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. (Isaiah 61:3) Fill their mouths with laughter and their tongues with shouts of joy so that it may be said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” (Psalm 126:2)
Lord Jesus Christ, make our lives and our life together to magnify you. Cause our glad tidings and good singing to combust into worship that moves the World. We bless you, the one who is, who was and is to come as we pray the prayer you taught us:
Prayer taken from Praying the Story, (Dunnam & Walt)
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