Liturgy Bits for NL313 – Daniel’s Hope in God

For more resources for this Sunday, please visit lectionary.wiki.

Prayer of the Day

During Advent 2024, Ascension is using the Advent candle lighting liturgy provided by Hope Publishing for Christ, Be Our Light (ELW 715), and our Prayer of the Day will be the prayer provided therein.

God of all creation, we declare that you are the Eternal One. We confess to you, O Lord, that we easily grow impatient, when your word to us is to wait. Ignite within us a new and everlasting hope. We pray this in the name of Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Prayers of the Church (traditional)

Ascension is using the prayers from Freed From, Freed For for Christ the King Sunday in 2016.

In expectation of the coming of our Lord, who is Emmanuel, God-with-us; we pray for the needs of the church, the world, and all those in need.

A brief silence.

Living God, work signs and wonders through your church, that the good news of your deliverance may be proclaimed to all the world. God of hope,
hear our prayer.

God of creatures great and small, heal broken ecosystems and protect the abundance and diversity of life on earth. God of hope,
hear our prayer.

God above, work in our leaders and provide them with wise and faithful counselors. God of hope,
hear our prayer.

God of deliverance, bring all who are trapped in despair or loneliness out of the darkness of their lion’s dens. God of hope,
hear our prayer.

God of abundance, heal all who suffer and restore people and relationships to wholeness. We pray especially for those from our community who are receiving hospice care: **insert names here**. For what and for whom else do the people of God pray?
God of hope,
hear our prayer.

Enduring God, your eternal dominion is evident in the lives of all the saints, we thank you for their witness and example. God of hope,
hear our prayer.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.

Prayers of the People (contemporary)

Influenced by the Prayers of the Church above, with thematic elements drawn from the Advent candle lighting liturgy as linked above.

Let us pray.

As we await the birth of our Savior, we gather in prayer for the church, the world, and all of God’s creation.

God of anticipation, we are excited to be your church! Grant us wisdom and a vision of how to serve you and to bring your good news to a world in desperate need of your hope.

God of the future, we long to live in a peaceful world. Uplift all our leaders and show them a path to a world without conflict, war, and political turmoil. Let there be peace on earth.

God of waiting, we pray for all who struggle in body, mind, and spirit. As they wait for answers, surround them with your compassion and mercy, and hold them in your healing hand. We pray especially for those from our community who are receiving hospice care: **insert names here**. For what and for whom else do the people of God pray?

God of hope, we lift our prayers to you, trusting in your mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.