Prayers - 7 December 2025
2nd Sunday of Advent/Te Rātapu Tuarua o te Haerenga Mai
Taken from/inspired by Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72:1-7 & 18-19, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12 and the ANZPB.
Bidding: Prepare the way for the Lord
Response: make straight paths for him.
[based on Matthew 3:3b]
Let us pray.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
[from Romans 15:7-9]
Lord God, may our communities glorify you
as we wait for your Son.
[silence]
Bidding: Prepare the way for the Lord
Response: make straight paths for him.
May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
May he defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
may he crush the oppressor.
May he endure as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
[Psalm 72: 3-5]
May the Church remember your promises, Lord,
And proclaim them with confidence and grace.
[silence]
Bidding: Prepare the way for the Lord
Response: make straight paths for him.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
[Isaiah 11:3b-5]
We long for your justice, Lord;
Strengthen the needy and rescue the oppressed.
[silence]
Bidding: Prepare the way for the Lord
Response: make straight paths for him.
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
[Psalm 72: 6-9]
God for whom we wait and watch,
you sent John the Baptist
to prepare for the coming of your Son:
give us courage to speak the truth
even to the point of suffering.
This we ask through Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
