ST MATTHEW'S PARISH CHURCH, LIGHTCLIFFE
in a united benefice with St Chad's Parish Church, Hove Edge
An Advent Prayer
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In Our Waiting
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God, we come to you in our waiting.
We wait with our fears,
our anxieties and frustrations,
our pains and regrets,
our shame and confusion.
God, help us to wait in peace.
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We wait with impatience
We rush around, preparing for the festivities,
not leaving the space to prepare
our hearts
God, help is to wait in faith
We wait in excitement
We are ready to celebrate
We know the story with it's humbleness, simplicity
and wonder
God, help is to nurture our joy
We wait in thanksgiving
We are free and able to celebrate
We have others around us to share in the journey
We are able to wonder in the marvel of your gift,
God, help us to receive your love
AMEN
The First Sunday of Advent
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Almighty God,
as your kingdom dawns,
turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness,
that we may be ready to meet you
in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ
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The Second Sunday of Advent
Almighty God
purify our hearts and minds
that when your son Jesus Christ comes again as
judge and saviour
we may be ready to receive him,
who is our Lord and our God
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The Third Sunday of Advent
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God for whom we watch and wait
you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for your Son
give us courage to speak the truth ,
to hunger for justice.
and to suffer for the cause of right
with Jesus Christ our Lord
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The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Eternal God,
as Mary waited for the birth of your Son
so we ait for his coming in glory
bring us through the birth pangs of this present age
to see, with her, our great salvation
in Jesus Christ our Lord
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Christmas Eve
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Almighty God,
as we prepare with joy
to celebrate the gift of the Christ Child
embrace the earth with your glory
and be for us a loving hope
in Jesus Christ our Lord
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Let us pray for grace, to keep Lent faithfully;
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Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent.
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that lamenting our sins we may receive from you perfect forgiveness and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever
AMEN