Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for you Lord have looked with favour on your lowly servant.
God our Saviour, we rejoice in your goodness and favour shown to us in the bountifulness of the earth. As yet another dry summer is upon us, we pray that you will send rain to water the land. Protect people threatened by bushfire and stand with those who fight fires.
Mary said: From this day all generations will call me blessed. You, the Almighty, have done great things for me, and holy is your name.
Almighty One, we thank you that we are blessed because you sent your Son to us and to all the world. Help us in our lives and in our community to live as a testimony of your love given to all in Jesus Christ. Gather many, we pray, to hear the good new proclaimed in word and song at St Philip’s and other churches throughout the world.
Have mercy on those who fear you, Mary said, from generation to generation.
Merciful one, as Christmas approaches we think of family and friends, praying that you will meet their needs, praying that you will bring them to faith in Jesus.
You have shown strength with your arm and scattered the proud in their conceit, casting down the mighty from their thrones, and lifting up the lowly.
God of strength, have mercy on our broken and divided world. Shed abroad your peace in the hearts of all that all races and peoples may learn to live as members of one family in obedience to you. In the coming weeks and months may the disharmony so evident in the Copenhagen Conference, despite the good will of many, be swept away-with the nations working together to safeguard the earth, its peoples, and all living things.
You have filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
Friend of all in need, we pray for those for whom Christmas is not a time of happiness-those who are without work, or homeless, or alone, or far away from their loved ones. Comfort those who mourn. We especially pray for the people of our community.
You have come to the aid of your servant Israel, in to remember your promise of mercy,
God of Israel, help, comfort and heal all who are in sickness, pain and distress.
. . . the promise made to our forebears, to Abraham and to his children forever.
God of Abraham, we give thanks for all those who have gone before us, praising you that you that through Jesus you have made us inheritors of the promise that we are your people and you are our God.
Lord, hear our prayer. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord..