As it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him”.

Mighty God, give us faith like John the Baptist, strong enough to believe even in a dessert that you and your kingdom are no farther from us than our hands. Make our heart strong like his, not swayed by trials or snared by false pleasures. Give us courage to be faithful until your promises are fulfilled.   

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Holy God, as we pursue the many imaginative ways in which our Churches approach Christmas during Advent, help us to understand through them the different facts about God’s amazing love and Grace.  We pray for all those who teach, preach and minister to the congregation here at St Peters.      

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Creator God, we pray for those whose responsibility it is to manage the world’s economy, and for those who have difficult ethical decisions to make; we pray for wisdom and courage to do what is right especially in the light of new mutations of the Covid Virus.  We pray for all who are terrorised throughout the world especially where fragile economies and international friendship and understanding are threatened as tourists no longer visit places affected by recent terrorist attacks.                                       

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Father God, your son Jesus lived an ordinary family life in Nazareth and so you understand the difficulties faced in family life. We pray for all of those involved in providing support for troubled families and strengthening our community life.  As we draw closer to Christmas, we pray for those families who will feel their problems increased by the need to provide what they cannot truly afford.                                                                                                                                                            Father God, we pray for those we see and talk to every day or every week; for those we often argue with or misunderstand; for those who brighten our lives and make us smile; for a greater thankfulness and appreciation of those we usually take for granted.                                                                                            

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Loving God, all the needs of your children are already known to you and so with God-given love we bring to mind those who are suffering physically, spiritually or emotionally, that they may find you there beside them in these dark and painful times. We place our sick under your care and humbly ask that you restore Brenda Herbert and Kate Green to better health again and in others in our hearts and mind.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Gracious God, we pray for the dying and those who have recently passed from this earthly life, namely Wasiu’s Uncle, Sawoli Andu. May they know the eternal peace of heaven and may those grieving and missing them be comforted.  We also remember those whose Anniversary falls at this time, Michael Haines, Godwin Oddoye, Billy Govender & Eileen Harrison. Rest eternal grant unto them O LORD      

Merciful God, who sent John the Baptist to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to take heed of his warnings and to turn away from our sinfulness so that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

Amen