Prepare for your coming gracious God

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

Prepare the church for your coming, gracious God. Inspire the whole church, in all of its marvelous diversity, to remain united in our common mission of proclaiming the love of Christ. O giver of hope, hear our prayer.

Prepare the nations for your coming, gracious God. Enlighten the world’s leadership to strive toward a vision of peace, where the wolf shall live with the lamb. O giver of hope, hear our prayer.

Prepare those who are outcast for your coming, gracious God. Shine the beacon of your hope on those who are lonely and forgotten, and who are victims of violence and injustice, that the too may know your joy. O giver of hope, hear our prayer.

Prepare those who suffer for your coming, gracious God. Encircle those who are ill with a mantle of healing. O giver of hope, hear our prayer.

Prepare this community of fait for your coming, gracious God. Empower us to embody Christ’s presence through our care for those who are less fortunate than ourselves. We give thanks for the gift of the work of all our Lutheran missionaries, and in particular for the month of December, for Rev. Judith VanOsdol-Hansen, and La Iglesia Evangelica Luterana Unida in Argentina. We celebrate the local partnership in ministry that we share with our sisters and bothers at Trinity in Ventura. We pray for Pastor Dave Hall and Jon Christenson for deep faithfulness and strong ministry to reveal the light of God’s love in their communities. O giver of hope, hear our prayer.

Prepare our hearts for your coming, gracious God. Keep us in unity with those who have died in faith and who now rest in the joy of peace of your presence. O giver of hope, hear our prayer.

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