ADVENT PEACE PRAYERS

1st Advent Peace Prayer:

O come, O come Emmanuel

Emmanuel, God with us, 
Saviour to captives and prisoners everywhere,
at this celebration of your birth
be with each lonely soul
exiled behind bars.

Emmanuel, God with us, 
Savior to prison guards and wardens everywhere,
at this celebration of your birth
protect those with power 
from temptations of tyranny.

Emmanuel, God with us,
Saviour to families and friends of prisoners,
at this celebration of your birth
cheer spirits with your advent
in the darkness of every jail.

Emmanuel, God with us,
Key of David, who can unlock any door,
may we celebrate your birth
finding you again
in every lowly prison cell.

2nd Advent Peace prayer:

Prayer for all who are Addicted

Come, long-expected Jesus, 
bringing good news to the oppressed,
coming to set your people free,
releasing us from sin and fear.
You bring good news into the lives of people
who are captive to addictions of every kind.
Good news for people who are addicted to alcohol or drugs.
Good news for people who are addicted to gambling.
Good news for people who are addicted to tobacco or food.
Good news for people who are addicted to pornography.
Good news for people who are addicted to work.
You give liberty to all who are bound.
Grant insight into the damage done.
Grant courage for first steps.
Deliver us from cravings;
let us not be led into temptation.
Let us find our strength and consolation in you.
We pray for addiction counselors and programs,
and for family and friends who support and encourage.
Help us to be communities of hope.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus, 
who was born to set our people free, 
Amen.

3rd Advent Peace Prayer:

A Prayer for Healing

Lord, you revealed yourself to Mary and Joseph
and walked with them to Bethlehem.
This advent, we listen for your voice;
we ask you to walk with us in our HIV/AIDS filled world.
We pray expecting your presence among us!
Be with all who live with the effects of this disease.
Be with those who wait to die because they have no access to medication.
Be with children who received HIV as a legacy from their parents.
Be with orphans and families who have lost loved ones.
Be with countries who have millions of afflicted citizens.
Be with all who are stigmatized and ignored because they are infected.
Be with politicians and executives who control access to affordable medications.
Be with researchers and scientists who work to find a cure.
Be with healthcare workers and caregivers who comfort and encourage.
Lord, we hear the angel's song of peace!
Fill the hearts of people around the world with good will
as we walk the road towards justice and healing
for all who suffer from HIV/AIDS.  Amen.

A Prayer for All Who Live with Violence

This year as we sing Silent Night
with its echoes of calm and heavenly peace,
we say a prayer for all who live in homes
where peace is absent.
We pray for children who live in fear,
whose homes are not a place of safety,
but a place of physical and verbal beatings.
We pray for seniors and other vulnerable people
whose caregivers do not care
as they are neglected or degraded.
We pray for all who are emotionally abused,
and who are not loved, honoured and cherished.
We pray for women who have had to flee their homes
or are afraid to flee their homes.
We pray for all who have been sexually violated,
and who are haunted by fear of violation.
May love's pure light this season empower us
to come to the aid of your hurting people.
We join together to sing Alleluia and thank you
for your grace that transforms our world.
In the name of the Holy Infant, 
Jesus our Saviour, Amen.

Epiphany Peace Prayer:

A Prayer to the Prince of Peace

Dear God:  
The newspaper brings nothing new
only an old, old story of war-
more bombing, more shooting, more bloodshed.
One more family wailing a funeral song.
Against the backdrop of brutal images,
we hear the old, old story of an angel with good news,
who brought good tidings of great joy for all people.
Angel of Bethlehem, we long to hear your song again this day.
We want good tidings for countries in crisis.
We want good tidings for soldiers caught in webs of violence.
We want good tidings for terrorists whose actions spread fear and anguish.
We want good tidings for all who grieve, and who see no end to grieving.
We want good tidings for children who long to inherit a country 
where peace has blossomed.
Jesus, our Saviour, 
you escaped Herod's best-laid plans.
May your Spirit of peace be born again this year 
in the hearts of all who work for peace.  Amen.