Greetings from the Foundation for Relief & Reconciliation in the Middle East

ADVENT 3

Prayers from Baghdad

The Spirit of The Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted.
Isaiah 61.1.

God of power and mercy, you call us once again to celebrate the coming of your Son. We pray for our families and loved ones at this time when many of us are away from home. We pray for St George’s at this time and for all of us involved in the children’s party on Friday. Remove those things which hinder love of you, so that when Jesus comes, he may find us waiting in awe and wonder for him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

God of our hope, renew in us the joy of your salvation and make us all worthy servants of your great mission; fill us with unending joy and prepare us for the birthday of our Saviour, we ask this in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

O Morning Star, splendour of the light eternal and bright Son of righteousness: come and enlighten all who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. LORD JESUS,COME SOON. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Those who follow me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come quickly.

Creator of the universe, Source of all light, send you Son Jesus Christ to shine in this dark world. Help us to prepare our hearts to receive him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Now and forever.
Amen.

Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from the lack of work and support. Guide the leaders of the world in the use of wealth and resources that every one may find suitable and fulfilling employment and a just reward for their labours, so that they may have support and nourishment of their families; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.

O God, it is your will that in this Holy Season, and at all times, that we draw heaven and earth into a single peace. Let the design of your great love shine in the waste lands of our wrath and sorrow; give peace among the nations, peace here in Iraq, in Afghanistan, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts and minds; through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Amen.

Heavenly Father bless our human nature and way of life with honest industry, truthful education and an honourable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, arrogance, confusion and evil actions. Make us who come from many nations, with many different languages, into a people united by your love and peace. Defend our liberties and give to those to whom we have entrusted authority, and power of government, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and strength, that there may be justice, peace, equity and prosperity in the world; give us thankful hearts and do not let our trust in you fail. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

May the Christ child keep you all in his love, bless you with his peace, fill you with his faith, heal you with his grace and focus your hope on things eternal.
Amen.

In a moment of silence or out loud we pray for those in need of our prayers…

Be steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and untiring in love all the days of your life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and those whom you love and pray for, now and always.
Amen

Even in times of distress, anxiety and concern, we have much for which to be thankful: for life; family, home, friends and neighbours; health, caregivers, ability to work and serenity of life; faith and our religious community, for God who surrounds us on every side and leads us forward day by day. Remember, the sun is shining, even when we can’t see it.

FOR THESE AND ALL HIS MERCIES MAY THE LORD’S HOLY NAME BE PRAISED. Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all you have done for us. We thank you for the splendour of the whole creation, for the beauty of the world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. We thank you for the blessings of family and friends and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.

We thank you for setting us tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us. And we thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone. Above all, we think you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his word and the example of his life, for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising again, by which we are raised to life in your kingdom. Grant us the gift of your Holy Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, we may give thanks to you for all things. Amen.

Almighty God, we pray for this Land of Iraq; may it return to honest industry, truthful education, and an honourable way of  life. Save us all here from violence, discord and confusion; from pride and arrogance;  and from every evil course of action. Make us a united people. Bless, guide and give wisdom to all Iraqi people and we especially pray for all at our sister Church of St George’s.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who is our strength and our salvation. Amen.

Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21, 28. Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, now and in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility, that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.

Hark what a sound, all too divine for hearing, stirs on the earth and trembles in the air! Is it the thunder of the Lord’s appearing? Is it the music of his people’s prayer?

Christ is the end, for Christ was the beginning.

Frederick Wm. H. Myers.

In a moments silence or out loud we pray for all those in need of our prayers at this time…

God for whom we wait, keep us ever watchful and ready to stand before you, and in the presence of him who is our salvation, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.