Prayer of the Church—Responsive Form

Second Sunday in Advent

7 December 2025

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

Merciful God, You remember Your covenant forever, for a thousand generations. Teach us to remember Your wondrous works and seek Your strength and presence continually. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, the voice of Your prophet broke the silence to prepare the way for Your Son. Give Your people the courage to speak Christ to the nations and teach those still in darkness and death about His gift of light and life. Keep us from being ashamed of the Gospel or intimidated by the opinions of others. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Gracious Father, You give Your Word to the Church for encouragement and instruction in endurance. Continue to instruct us by Your Word, that we may abound in hope. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, You preserved Jesse’s faithful line by the incarnation of Your Son. Give families and individuals strength to faithfully fulfill their vocations to love and forgive one another, that we may be trained up in Your fear, love and trust. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Merciful Lord, Your Son rules over creation with justice and righteousness. Endow those in authority with the desire and ability to protect the innocent, punish the wicked and work for the common welfare. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Holy God, St. John spoke the promise of healing to the broken and wounded. Give to all afflicted in body or mind the riches of Your grace, healing according to Your will, and grace to carry them through the day of their trouble. [We pray especially for _____________.] Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, and make ready the way of Your only begotten Son, who comes to us this day in His true body and precious blood for the forgiveness of our sins. May all who feast upon Him do so in repentance and faith. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord God, heavenly Father, grant us all things needful and keep from us all things harmful to us and to our salvation, that with confidence in Your will, we may say “amen” to our prayers and live in contentment and peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer of the Church—Ektene Form

Second Sunday in Advent

7 December 2025

In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For God’s covenant people, that He would teach them to remember His wondrous works and to seek His strength and presence, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For courage to speak Christ to the nations and to teach those still in darkness and death about His gift of light and life; and that God would keep us from being ashamed of His Gospel or intimidated by the opinions of others, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those who grow in the faith, that God’s Word of encouragement and instruction in endurance would cause them to abound in hope, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For families, that they would faithfully fulfill their vocations to love and forgive one another, even as they grow in the fear, love and trust of the Lord, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For civil authorities, that they would govern with justice and righteousness as leaders appointed by God to protect the innocent, punish the wicked and work for the common welfare of all, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those afflicted in body or mind, [especially _____________,] that they would receive the riches of God’s grace, healing according to His will, and grace to carry them through the day of trouble, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who commune this day, that their hearts would be stirred up to make ready the way of the Lord Jesus, who comes in His body and blood, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

O Lord God, heavenly Father, grant us all things needful and keep from us all things harmful to us and to our salvation, that with confidence in Your will, we may say “amen” to our prayers and live in contentment and peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.