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  Lat Sunday before Advent Year A

Church Prayers by Mr John Tatman

Christ the King, Stir-Up-Sunday

Let us pray. God our redeemer, who in your word commands us to pray without ceasing, we name in your presence this morning people and situations that need our prayers. We rejoice in the richness of your creation, and we pray for your wisdom for all who live on this earth, that we may wisely manage and not destroy what you have made for us and for our descendants. We pray for the church throughout the world and in this country. We pray for this church and also for Putnoe Heights, for Charlie and Sam and for all who serve in positions of authority. We pray for all who offer their services in various ways in the service of Christ.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the governments of the world, and all world leaders, that they may uphold what is right for peaceful union between all countries. We acknowledge with shame and sorrow all the sin, hatred and injustice, which have led and still lead to violence and war. We pray for all who are engaged in bringing relief to communities which are hit by war and poverty, injustice and neglect. We give thanks that there are people who are prepared to go to dangerous and bleak corners of the world to care for the sick and dying. Lord, be with them and offer your helping hand to them in their endeavours.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, we bring before you ourselves, our families, and friends, that you may touch us and bless us. Help us to know you, to love you, to enjoy you, and to serve you. Rule in our hearts and in our homes. Keep us tender and thoughtful in our loving, sustain us in our anxious and difficult times and protect and deliver us from all that could weaken or destroy our happy lives. Guide us, and guide all others, in whose hands is the training of our children and young people, that we may be for them not a hindrance but a help and an encouragement.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.


Jesus, healer of the sick, who raised the dead to life, we praise you for the faith you give us to keep on hoping and praying for those who are ill. In a moment of quietness, we name in our hearts those we know or love who are ill or in any kind of need at this time: -


Lord, we bring our sickness to your healing hands, we bring our sadness to your tender hands, we bring our needs to your praying hands, and we bring our suffering to your wounded hands. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.


Almighty God, we pray for those we love but see no longer. Grant them your peace, and let light perpetual shine upon them. We pray for those who mourn, that they may know the consolation of your love. Jesus Christ is the light of the world, a light which no darkness can quench. We remember before God, those who have died, and light a candle to symbolise the light of Christ, which eternally brings hope. We remember: -


You turn our darkness into light. In your light, shall we see light. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.



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

What is Prayer ?

When people close their eyes and pray. What are they actually doing? When people light candles and offer a thought to God what is taking place?

Christians do not believe that God needs to be alerted to the needs of people, or begged, coaxed and pleaded with if he is to do something about their problems. What sort of God would only make people better if and when enough other people asked hard enough? And what would it say about the infinite value of each and every person?

Prayer is not a shopping list, neither is prayer about grovelling before a God who is like a fearful tyrant.

In our prayers we bring our deepest feelings to God and share them. To pray is to express our most profound longings. To be continually awe-struck by the world is to pray, in that it helps our souls to fly. To be aware of our failings is to pray, in that it helps our souls to grow. To be thankful is to pray, in that it helps our souls to shine. None of these attempt to change the world, all of them reflect the fact that we have spiritual needs which only prayer can satisfy.

Prayer is the means by which Christians communicate with their God. The New Testament records that Jesus taught his disciples how to pray and that he encouraged them to address God as Father. Christians believe that they continue this tradition. Sometimes the prayers are formal and part of a ritual laid down for hundreds of years. Others are personal and spontaneous, and come from personal or group need.

Whilst prayer is often directed to God as Father, as taught by Jesus, some traditions encourage prayer to God through intermediaries such as saints and martyrs. Prayers through Mary, as the mother of God are central to some churches and form a traditional part of their worship. It has been said that there are as many different ideas about prayer as there are people to pray. But what is certain is that prayer is nothing less than the foundation of the spiritual life, and we need therefore to ‘pray without ceasing’, as St Paul put it, with such reflection being as natural as breathing - and almost as important!