PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Fourth Sunday in Advent Dec. 22, 2024 In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. For all who prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, that our ever-faithful and all-powerful God would give us grateful hearts that His Son has come in the flesh to save us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. For proper fear and love of the Lord, that the mighty God who has exalted us to be His children would preserve us by His Holy Word, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. For peace, that our Father who sent Christ to be our peace would preserve us in repentance, so that we would live in peace with one another, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. For congregations where numbers are small and resources scarce, that God, who raised up the King of all from little Bethlehem, would provide for their needs also and remind them that the same King dwells among them in His Means of Grace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. For women unable to conceive or who suffer the heartbreak of miscarriage, that God would be their rock against despair, provide them with consolation and purpose in Christ, and restore them to exult in His salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. For our leaders, that Christ Jesus, who shepherds His flock to the ends of the earth, would grant them wisdom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. For the nations, that they may have peace and that we may dwell secure, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. For all who suffer in mind or body, that Christ, our Immanuel, would be with them in their trials and grant health and healing in accord with His perfect will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. For all who commune, that God, who sanctified us through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all on the cross, would prepare our hearts to receive Christ’s body and blood for the forgiveness of sins this day, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. Lord God, heavenly Father, we give You thanks for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is truly the King of the nations and their desire. He who formed us of clay took on our human nature that He might save us. He came to His own and was rejected by them, yet You established Him as the true cornerstone, tested and precious, that whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame. Grant that, as we recall with thanksgiving His advent in the flesh, we may always confess Him and remain watchful for His advent in glory at the Last Day; for You live and reign, ever one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
