God and humanity meet in the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth: may the Church of Christ with profound faith offer the space for God and humanity always to meet, that God’s saving love and freedom might spring up from the earth
[READER:] HEAR US WE PRAY…
[response] WE COME TO DO YOUR WILL
Insignificant Bethlehem gives birth to the Messiah: may no one be counted insignificant or of little value; may the small and poor nations of the Earth be treated with equal dignity as the rich and powerful nations; may the work of the United Nations help all to value each in a realm of peace
[READER:] HEAR US WE PRAY…
[response] WE COME TO DO YOUR WILL
The Visitation holds rich promise for all peoples: that the Palestinian and Jewish Peoples will find a new path forward that will bring peace rather than endless ethnic conflict to the Land that Jews, Christians and Moslems revere as Holy; that the pain of the children of Afghanistan and Yemen will be truly heard and seen, so that the international community will aid these stricken nations, and so save millions from starvation
[READER:] HEAR US WE PRAY…
[response] WE COME TO DO YOUR WILL
‘Of all women you are most blessed’: as God chooses a woman to carry all human hope and woman to give birth to infinite love in the world, may all women know they are valued, reverenced with the dignity of equality in both church and society; may the Global Synod deal effectively with inequalities in the Church and may all women who have known abuse in their lives be gently healed
[READER:] HEAR US WE PRAY…
[response] WE COME TO DO YOUR WILL
May the re-telling of the timeless story of Jesus’ birth in all its simplicity and depth bring many to hear afresh the Good News of God’s immense love, and be converted to Christ, to humanity and to love: we pray especially for all our children and young people
[READER:] HEAR US WE PRAY…
[response] WE COME TO DO YOUR WILL
Jesus is the promise of wholeness and healing: may all mothers who carry a child in their womb know security and peace; may the sick find hope and healing especially during this escalating pandemic; we pray for the housebound of our parish and those who will spend Christmas in hospital or seriously ill, in particular …
that those who have died recently be raised to eternal life, in particular Fr Nicholas Tranter, Fr Louis Beasley-Suffolk, … and all those who have died of Covid or in war, conflict or the refugee flight to safety
may those whose anniversaries are at this time know eternal light:
[READER:] HEAR US WE PRAY…
[response] WE COME TO DO YOUR WILL
Mary, faithful bearer of the Coming of God, pray with us, especially for God’s Blessing upon all women who carry a child in their womb at this time..
HAIL MARY…
We wait upon the Coming of the Saviour in a moment of silence…