The Fourth Sunday of Advent, Cycle A, December 18, 2022, The Prayers of the Faithful, Matthew 1:18-24

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Fourth Sunday of Advent: The Prayers of the Faithful

December 18, 2022

Let us pray not to be afraid. May God change our hearts when our perceptions and attitudes turn toward fear. May we be open to the surprise of God’s presence this Advent.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray not to toss our dreams aside. May God whisper hope in our ears when we do not know what to do next in life. May we dream with vigor and in praise of God’s miracles.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray to seek our lost children. May our runaways find their way back to a loving and sheltering home. May our orphans find gentle protection and our foster children dream of hope and fearless nights.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our families as we gather this Christmas. May our children in military service find peaceful homes. May our children in college be welcome in homes of comfort and rest this sacred season.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for people who seek new dreams for their lives. May dreams come true for the destitute, the depressed, and the chronically ill. May healing be manifest in our awakening to God.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for people disappointed in how their lives have turned out. May we welcome the life we have and not the life we think we should have. May hope abound in every breath we take under heaven.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray to imagine the beauty of the Incarnation. May God-with-us be manifest in every fragile heart and broken life. May we seek God and find gratefulness every day of our lives.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our loved ones and strangers who have died. May the souls of our beloved find pure joy in heaven.

We pray to the Lord.