Prayers for Sunday 21 December 2025

4th Sunday of Advent/Te Rātapu Tuarua o te Haerenga Mai

Taken from/inspired by Isaiah 7:10-16, Psalm 80:1-7 &17 -19, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 3:1-12 and the ANZPB.

Bidding: Restore us, God Almighty;
Response: make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.
[based on Psalm 80:7]

Let us pray.

Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
    shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
    come and save us.

[from Psalm 80: 1-2]

Lord God, gather us together
in hope and love.

[silence]

Bidding: Restore us, God Almighty;
Response: make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

…the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right…
[Isaiah 7:14]

Immanuel,
be with Your church.
[silence]

Bidding: Restore us, God Almighty;
Response: make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

How long, Lord God Almighty,
    will your anger smoulder
    against the prayers of your people?
 You have fed them with the bread of tears;
    you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
 You have made us an object of derision[b] to our neighbours,
    and our enemies mock us.

[Psalm 80:4-6]

Creation cries out for your mercy
and pleads for your justice

[silence]

Bidding: Restore us, God Almighty;
Response: make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

Through him, we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.  And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
[Romans 1:5-6]

God, faithful and true,
make us eager with expectation,
as we look for the fulfilment of your promise
in Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.

Amen.