‘Rejoice so highly favoured’ … The Angel announces the Good News to Mary … as we listen to one another in this Global Synod, may the Church always be faithful in announcing Good News to the world, and inviting all to utter their ‘Yes’ to God’s call
[reader] SPEAK YOUR WORD..
[people] OVERSHADOW US WITH YOUR SPIRIT…
‘His reign will have no end’ … we pray for all rulers and governments, that they will serve their people, not dominate them, raise up the poorest of their nations, not exploit them, build the peace not destroy it, especially in Israel/Palestine, the Ukraine, Sudan, Cameroon, and Central Africa, which so needs the Prince of Peace at this time
[reader] SPEAK YOUR WORD..
[people] OVERSHADOW US WITH YOUR SPIRIT…
‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ … that we will all open our lives and our community to the renewing, life-giving and empowering Holy Spirit, welcome Jesus into our hearts and so bring the intimacy and joy of God who is the Emmanuel – God with us – to the world around us
[reader] SPEAK YOUR WORD..
[people] OVERSHADOW US WITH YOUR SPIRIT…
‘You have won God’s favour, Listen!’ … we may prepare our hearts more than our homes for the coming of the Saviour, and in the quietness of prayer let the Spirit to overshadow us and bring Christ to birth within us
[reader] SPEAK YOUR WORD..
[people] OVERSHADOW US WITH YOUR SPIRIT…
‘The child will be holy, Son of God’ … For the children of our Inner City as their excitement grows: may they not be hurt with a Christmas scarred by alcohol or drugs and not enough love; may we learn true joy from the wonder in their eyes
[reader] SPEAK YOUR WORD..
[people] OVERSHADOW US WITH YOUR SPIRIT…
‘I am the handmaid of the Lord’ … that we will find joy as we, like Mary, walk the way of the Disciple, surrender ourselves to God’s love, serve the poor, seek God’s vision for our lives and our parish as we are soon to enter a New Year – we pray in particular for our sisters and brothers seeking safe sanctuary among us
[reader] SPEAK YOUR WORD..
[people] OVERSHADOW US WITH YOUR SPIRIT…
‘And the Angel left her’ … we pray for all who will be sick, isolated or alone this Christmas and for …;
We pray eternal life for all who have died recently, especially … and all killed by war and violence and for all who grieve at this Christmas period;
and for all whose anniversaries at this time:
[reader] SPEAK YOUR WORD..
[people] OVERSHADOW US WITH YOUR SPIRIT…
Mary, help us to say ‘Yes!’ to God and bear Jesus, Prince of Peace, to the world especially at this time of so much conflict and destruction…
HAIL MARY…
Like Mary, let us listen to the whispers of God for a moment…