Diocesan Prayer Fellowship

The Week of Christmas

23rd December, 2007
 The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen


Christmas Eve
Living Jesus, born in Bethlehem's darkness long ago as an infant to tabernacle in our hearts this night, enshirine our faith inside your steadfastness and place our lives within your humble holiness.  May the ever flowing wonder of the Word becoming flesh bestow special graces upon this wayward world.  Engender within our consciousness a deep desire to grasp this moment until we have discerned all of Christmas's most sacred meanings.  As your church communes within the majesty of your loving care, glorify our worship, swaddle us with righteousness, and let your gentleness and peace sparkle with our joy as we honour and glorify you.  Amen
 

Christmas Day
Almighty God, you have spoken your Word in a sanctuary of straw and you have soothed our souls with angelic messages that transfigured the meaning of motherhood.  Gather our lives where the shepherds once stood.  Grant us the privilege to gaze upon the vision that was given to Mary and celebrate through Joseph's bewilderment the mystical meanings we have inherited from the First Christmas Day.  Scatter disbelief and guide us to the birthing place  where our humanity is overwhelmed and renewed by Divine Grace.
 

St. Stephen
The first Christian martyr was appointed deacon (Acts 6:6) undoubtedly because he was a man of "good reputation" and "Spirit filled" (6:3).  His story is told in Acts 6:1-8:2.  He was condemned to death by the Sanhedrin on charges of blasphemy.  Stephen forgave his executioners and by virtue of his unyielding pity was graced with an unusual theophany.  He encountered simultaneously the presence of "Son of Man, standing at the right hand of God (7:56)."  Let us pray for the grace that will enable us to forgive all who trespass against us and receive the Holy Spirit's empowerment to faithfully serve God unto our life's end.

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
This prayer appears at the end of William Temple's "Readings in St. John's Gospel:

O Lord Jesus Christ, thou Word and Revelation of the Father, come we pray thee, take possession of our hearts and reign where thou has right to reign.  So fill our minds with the thought and our imaginations with the picture of thy love, that there may be in us no room for any desire that is discordant with thy holy will.  Cleanse us, we pray thee, from all that may make us deaf to thy call or slow to obey it, who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit art one God, blessed for ever. Amen.

Holy Innocents
Matthew 2: 13-18

We learn this day how easy it is for goodness to be swallowed up by prideful human schemes driven by selfish ambitions.  We ask that God will give us an upright heart to stand against the forces of worldly greed and the courage to allow our lives to be a living refuge for all whose lives are stalked by unjust circumstances.

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod.  Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate justice, love, and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen