A Call To Prayer
Thanksgiving and Advent 2019

 A Thanksgiving Prayer for Advent

Remembering all we have to be thankful for will make it easier to focus on the reason for the season and resist the pressure to want more, and the prayer of General Thanksgiving page 836 from the Book of Common Prayer is a good place to start.
Let us pray.
Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.
We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us.
We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone. Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom. Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know him and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things.   Amen.

 What We Do

 In solidarity with one another, all Daughters everywhere make the same promises upon their admission to the Order:

                                      To obey the two Rules of The Order: The Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service.
                                      To offer at all times loyal aid to our clergy and parish to spread Christ’s kingdom.
                                      To wear faithfully the cross of The Order.
                                      To work for the purposes of The Order as God may give us the opportunity.

 

The Prayer of the Order

 O Eternal Father, you have sent us your Son to teach us things pertaining to your heavenly Kingdom. Give your blessing to our Order wherever it may be throughout the world. Grant that we, your Daughters, ever may discern your truth and bear the cross through the battles of our earthly life. Give us strength to overcome temptation and the grace to work to spread your Kingdom and to gather your scattered sheep within your fold. Pour out upon us the sevenfold gift of the Holy Spirit that we may always remember it is your work we are called to do, that all we think, do or say may be pleasing in your sight. We ask it all For His Sake, our King and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Collect for the Last Sunday of Pentacost

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.   Amen.

  

Prayer for Advent

Heavenly Father, as once again we prepare for Christmas, help us to find time in our busy lives for quiet and thought and prayer, that we may reflect upon the wonder of your love and allow the story of the Savior’s birth to penetrate our hearts and minds. So may our joy be deeper, our worship more real, and our lives worthier of all that you have done for us through the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

We Pray for the Church

For the wider Christian family who will be celebrating Thanksgiving, Advent and Cristmas in so many different ways, and for those who dare not celebrate openly.

  • For Christians in countries where there is persecution.
  • For Christians in our own country, with whom we will share our celebrations
  • For our Church family.

Lord, In Your mercy, Hear Our Prayer.

We Pray for Peace

Give peace to the world.

Give peace to the victims of war, the refugees, the widowed and the orphans. Give peace to family and friends; to those who have quarreled and need to be reconciled.

Give peace in our own divided hearts. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord, In Your mercy, Hear Our Prayer.

We know that without justice there can be no peace. Let peace come when all people are respected, regardless of race and religion. Let peace come when trading weapons of mass destruction is a crime. Let peace come when the earth’s resources are used wisely for the common good. Let peace come when money is used to serve and not enslave the world. Let peace come through the transformation of our lives that we may do justice, love and kindness and walk humbly with our God. Your Son came as the Prince of Peace and brought a message of Peace for all people. Help us to be peacemakers in our own homes, at our work or wherever we meet people, so that the peace and goodwill of Christmas can find a place in the hearts of all people.

Lord, In Your mercy, Hear Our Prayer.

We pray for … 

Homeless people and for refugees who have no country to call their own. Let your blessing be with those who work to help the homeless this Christmas, and give to all of us the determination to help where we can.

Lord, In Your mercy, Hear Our Prayer.

 

We pray for …

People who are lonely, those who are lonely because they have lost a partner, those who are lonely because no-one seems to care, those who are lonely because of handicap or illness. Let your presence be with those who are alone at this season of friendship and may we take your friendship to those whom we know will be alone this Christmas.

Lord, In Your mercy, Hear Our Prayer.

 

We pray for … 

Friends and family who are ill at this time, and remember them in the quietness of our hearts. We bring them to you in the confidence that you love them and know their every need and that your healing power is still the same today. Bless all that is being done for their recovery and answer our prayers as you see best.

Lord, In Your mercy, Hear Our Prayer.

 

Reflection

Giving Thanks

“Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” (Luke 17: 17-18)

 

Ingratitude has been called “the unkindest cut of all.” Yes, it is so easy to fall in love with the gift and forget all about the Giver; to admire a painting and never think of the painter; to enjoy music and never know the heart from which it came; to accept and love ourselves and not to care for the One from whom we came.

 

Our very existence is a gift of God. We are a conglomeration of the gifts of God? What do we have that we have not received? Our most basic relationship with God therefore should be one of gratitude.

 

To remember and give thanks. That is what the Bible is all about. The Bible is the written history of many of the wonderful gifts God has given us from the very creation of the world and the promise of even greater gifts in the future. In the beginning the memory of these gifts was handed on orally to each succeeding generation and then under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit written down so that all could remember and give thanks. “Lord, give me a grateful heart.”

 

We live in a country of plenty in a world of want, a land of religious and political freedom in a world of ethnic cleansing and zero tolerance, a land at peace in a world at war. Yet we must set time aside daily not one day a year to remind us to give thanks to God. “Lord, give me a grateful heart.”

 

Gifts are the language of love, the more one loves the more one gives. Never has this language of gift-giving been spoken to us as God has spoken it to us. If God would not give us one gift more, we should be grateful. But the best gift is yet to come. God will continue to look over us with His Divine Providence and then at the end of our life He will give us the greatest gift of all the gift of the Giver to be known, loved and possessed forever.

 

“Lord, give me a grateful heart,” so that I may always remember and give thanks, and in so doing I may grow in the love of You.

  Extemporaneous Prayer

Heavenly Father we ask you to hold the following people in the palm of your hand.

 Prayer for Faithfulness of Service

O Lord, Jesus Christ, head of the mystical body of the church of which we are members, cleanse our eyes to see you, quicken our ears to hear you, open our lips to show forth your praise, give our hands skill to do your bidding, and make our feet swift to go where you guide, that your Kingdom may come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, all for your dear sake. Amen.

 

Prayer for a Daughter Who Has Died

Dear Heavenly Father, we bless You for all those who have departed this life in Your faith and fear. Through their loving service to others and the Order and their way of prayerful living they endeavored to perfect Your will in their life.  May their deep faith be an inspiration to all and so illumine the hearts of women and girls to find You along their earthly pilgrimage. Grant that the light of Your presence and Your eternal peace be their great and everlasting reward.  Amen.

 

Prayer For Members Who are Ill

O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers, mercifully accept our prayer and grant to all the help of your power, that their sickness may be turned to health and our sorrow to joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Prayer For Healing 

Our Heavenly Father, by whose loving kindness and mercy our souls and bodies are renewed, look upon your children for whom we pray. Knowing you are interested in personal needs, we bring to your altar those who are perplexed or afraid, as we ask you to take away fear; those who face physical suffering, as we ask you to give them courage to endure; those who seem burdened with indecision, as we ask you to lift the pall of confusion. We also bring those who are lonely, for whom we ask companionship. We ask guidance and comfort for those to whom death has brought sorrow and despair. Amen.

 

Prayer for Peace in Troubled Times

Dear Lord, in these troubled times make your presence known to all the peoples around the world so that they may see peace as the only way to salvation. Replace the anger and violence in our hearts with joy and tranquility and help us to seek the good in everyone. Cause us all to realize that without you we can do nothing that will bring us peace and joy. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. Amen.

 

Prayer for Our Country And It’s Leadership

Lord God, we desperately need your wisdom. You have given us a great country, founded on principles and truths from Your Word. We need men and women who will honor You, trust You, and lead us once again back to You. We pray for servant leaders who love the things You love and who care more about others than themselves.

 

Give us leaders with discerning hearts, bold faith, and wise minds that model Your character. Teach them—and us—not just what is good, but what is best. Guide them in the way our country should go. Give them purity in their intentions, and godliness in their convictions. Energize their spirits and bodies physically and spiritually, and keep them emotionally secure in the knowledge of who You are— and whose they are. Help them to be bighearted and sincere, energetic in goodness, and courteous in their manners. Raise up leaders with the greatest potential of godly leadership, those who can ease confusion, expose illusion, and heal delusion. You alone hold the power to turn the hearts of leaders, but You listen and use our prayers to move them into right action. Help us to be faithful to care and to pursue Your heart in prayer. Amen.

 

 The Holy Cross

Almighty God, whose beloved son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow Him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

                                        The Motto of the Order

                                                   For His Sake...I am but one, but I am one.
                                                   I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
                                                   What I can do, I ought to do.
                                                   What I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.
                                                    Lord, what will you have me do?
 

Thanksgiving Benediction

[from Pastor Joe Sherer]

 

May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

 

May the broad expanse of God’s love
and the abundance of His riches in glory,
shape your perspective on your own life and needs, including those things which disappoint you.

 

May the eyes of your heart be open
to all the blessings which surround you;
may this awareness produce a harvest of generosity in your spirit.

 

May thankfulness rise up within you, not just during this short season,
but day after day,
from the early morning watch until you retire for the night.
 
May your prayers reflect gratitude,
while also acknowledging the needs of others whose situations are so drastically different.

 

May thoughts of Jesus fill your mind, and hunger for God drive your soul,
and love for Lord guide your speech and your actions.

 

And finally, may the grace, peace, and love of the triune God, protect, defend, and empower you
to run with perseverance the race marked out for you. Amen.
Daughters, may the Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.

AMEN.

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.