Our Lord strengthens us and enriches our lives.  His Spirit resides in our souls calling us to be his disciples, to serve Him and to hold His laws deeply in our hearts.  Joy is a gift for all those who trust in God.  Let us pray, Lord, light our hearts with Your love.

May we remember the sacrifices that were made over the last century and a half to foster equality among races. As we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr., whose way of peaceful resistance brought justice and opportunity to people of color, may we challenge ourselves to eradicate prejudice in our communities, schools and workplaces. May we realize the wonders and great plans that the Lord has for all of us in this world.  Let us pray, Lord, light our hearts with Your love.

We pray for the worldwide Anglican Communion, especially the Church of Nigeria. We pray for the end of violence recently against Christians in Egypt, Iraq and India. We pray for the victims of violence in Tucson. We also extend our prayers to parishes in the Diocese of Maryland, especially, St. David’s Roland Park, St. Bartholomew’s, Ten Hills and St. Christopher’s, Linthicum. We hold up our Church leaders, especially our Presiding Bishop, Kathryn, our Bishop of Maryland, Eugene and our Christ Church Clergy, Richard and Gina.  We give thanks for God’s grace in all our lives.  Let us pray, Lord, light our hearts with Your love.

Lord, as we worship and praise you today in Your Sanctuary, we thank you for leading visitors and newcomers into our congregation.  May we welcome them as our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Let us pray, Lord, light our hearts with Your love.

Let us be assured that our Lord extends His deep love and compassion to all those who face sudden or long term illness, those who are coping with disabilities, those who require surgery, and to those who are lonely, isolated, fearful or depressed.  We ask for God’s healing presence, especially for our friends and loved ones.  May we surely recognize His faithfulness and great care throughout our lives. Let us pray, Lord, light our hearts with Your love.

Lord, you are our Redeemer, Lamb of God and Messiah.  You have promised eternal life to all who call on Your Name.  We remember our family members and friends who have entered Your Kingdom, especially [N.]. May they live forever in the Glory of God.  Let us pray, Lord, light our hearts with Your love.

We thank God for all the occasions of joy in our Church community. We remember the birthdays, baptismal anniversaries and wedding anniversaries of our church family.  Your Love is evident in our lives.  Let us pray, Lord light our hearts with Your love.

Let us answer the call of our Lord Jesus to follow Him and to be in fellowship with the living God.  Let us live according to His will.  Amen.

Star of Bethlehem, lead us this day, strong and fearless, as you led the wise men so many years ago to the one true light, born to us again. The holy child in a manger shines brightly in our hearts and we begin a new day along our journey giving thanks for this New Year. Holy Savior on this dawn we pray for peace on Earth.  Dry the tears in this world, heal the broken hearted; feed the hungry; bring your peace into our violence,

The lyrics of the Carols and the Christmas Hymns are still fresh on our lips. Embed them in our hearts.  Star of wonder; star of night, star with royal beauty bright; westward leading still proceeding, guide us this day and on each new morning to the light.  Emmanuel, God with us, we pray: Shine in our hearts Lord Jesus!

The Psalmist writes: “Holy are they that put their trust in you!” We give thanks for your Church worldwide. In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we remember the Anglican Church of Lahore – Pakistan. We pray for each of the churches in our diocese and for our own Christ Church. Cleanse our hearts; prepare us to do your work. Shine on us, in us and through us. We pray for and we give thanks for our Bishop, Eugene, for our Rector, Richard, for our Assistant Rector, Gina and for the dedicated and tireless members of the staff who so faithfully serve our church. Make us holy; perfect Son of God. We pray: Shine in our hearts Lord Jesus!

You are born anew into a still troubled and hurting world. We pray for all who suffer those who are ill and in pain of any kind. We pray for the victims of natural disasters, of political persecution or intolerance; for those who are oppressed. We pray for those who hunger; who are homeless; who are without work. We pray for those who are in prison, or who are alone or lonely in this New Year. Fill them with your love. Heal them. Bring them your peace. We pray; Shine in our hearts Lord Jesus.

We pray for those who have died. Wrap them tenderly in your eternal love Holy God and carry them safely home in love to the joy of your heavenly kingdom. Heal, protect and comfort those who grieve. We pray; Shine in our hearts Lord Jesus!

Lord Jesus, you give us the gift of joy in our lives and hearts and you endlessly give us occasions to celebrate.  This morning we are thankful for Birthdays and Anniversaries of Marriages and of Baptisms.  We pray; Shine in our hearts Lord Jesus!

This day and every day may we pray into the theme of our Christ Church year. On this morning as we look to the guiding star of Bethlehem we rediscover those words and our promise in the Christmas song; If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man I would do my part. “What I have I give you; I give you my heart.”  Amen.

Heavenly Father, you have truly blessed us.  We sing with joy this morning for the gift You bestowed on us when You sent Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ into this world.  As we celebrate the light You have given to the world, we pray saying “Lord, we praise You and we thank You.”

We remember those in this world who live in the darkness of war or oppression.  We pray that the oppressed and their oppressors will see the light that shines in the darkness, the light that cannot be overcome by the darkness.  We lift to the light those in our own community who are in need of food or proper shelter.  We ask Your help in discerning how we can best serve you by helping others.  We pray “Lord, we praise You and we thank You.”¹

We give thanks for Christ Church, for the light that shines here; for the love and caring of our fellow parishioners; and for our ability to be together this morning.  We give thanks for all who are new or visiting with us today.   May they feel the welcome and the love that is here to be shared.  We pray, “Lord, we praise You and we thank You.”

Even as we sing with joy, we remember those whose ability to celebrate this day is affected by fear, loneliness, illness or grief.   We thank You for their presence in our lives and pray that they will find healing and the hope and peace that You have given us.  We pray, “Lord, we praise You and we thank You.”

We remember our loved ones who have died, especially those in whose loving memory the Altar gifts are given.  We thank You for their time with us in this life, for the Christmases we celebrated with them and for the day we will join them in eternal life.  We pray: “Lord, we praise You and we thank You.”

Lord, we pray that we will remember the goodness and loving-kindness You have shown us.   As we leave here this joyful morning, we pray that we will always remember the true source of that joy.  May we continue to sing our praises and thanksgiving.  Let the Earth rejoice!  Amen

Heavenly Father, we sing with joyful anticipation this evening for the gift You bestowed on us when You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ into this world.  As we celebrate the light that You gave to the world, we pray saying “Lord, we praise You and we thank You.”

We remember those in this world who live in the darkness of war or oppression.  We pray that the oppressed and their oppressors will see the light that shines in the darkness, the light that cannot be overcome by the darkness.  We lift to the light those in our own community who are in need of food or proper shelter.  We ask Your help in discerning how we can best serve you by helping others.  We pray:“Lord, we praise You and we thank You.”

We give thanks for Christ Church, for the light that shines here; for the love and caring of our parishioners; for the beauty of our worship tonight; and for all who have made this worship possible.  We give thanks for all who are new or visiting with us tonight.  May they feel the welcome and the love that is here to be shared.  We pray: “Lord, we praise You and we thank You.”

Even as we sing with joy, we remember those whose ability to celebrate this holy night is affected by fear, loneliness, illness or grief.  We thank You for their presence in our lives and pray that they will find peace and healing.  We pray: “Lord, we praise You and we thank You.”

We remember our loved ones who have died, especially those in whose loving memory the Altar gifts are given.  We thank You for their time with us in this life, for the Christmases we celebrated with them and for the day we will join them in eternal life.  We pray: “Lord, we praise You and we thank You.”

Lord, we pray that we will always remember the goodness and loving-kindness that You have shown us. We pray that as we go forth into this night and in coming days, we will continue to sing our praises and thanksgiving.  “Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth.”

Matthew’s Gospel unfolds God’s plan to Joseph in this manner; “An Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said “Do no be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”  God calls to us, in these final days of the Season of Advent, to carve out quiet time to reflect, to be still and to listen in awe and in humble thanksgiving to the miracle unfolding once again. We remember, as we search through the maze of retail stores for the perfect gift for family and friends who are special in our lives, that the one and only perfect gift is born, by God’s grace, to each one us just at the asking. This is the gift we each have to give this Christmas. May we take the time to share this precious gift with each of those who are dear to us. We pray: Thanks be to God for His perfect gift of love.

The Psalmist this morning tells us “Happy are they who dwell in your house, they will always be praising you.” As you loved us enough to be born to us in this world may we faithfully walk the path you set before us and may we joyfully continue to bring your message of God’s love into this world. We warmly welcome all who are new or visiting us this morning. In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we lift up the Falkland Islands and in our own Diocese we pray for St. Andrew the Fisherman, Mayo and Resurrection, Baltimore. We give thanks for our Bishops, Eugene and John, for our Rector Richard and our Assistant Rector, Gina. In faith and in thanksgiving we pray: Thanks be to God for His perfect gift of love.

We pray for all who struggle during these holy days. Shelter those who are homeless, feed those who hunger, protect those who suffer oppression or abuse or distress of any kind. Heal those who are ill. We pray for all those in need this day. May your presence be with them and may your love bring them hope and healing. May we carry your gift of love to all whom we are able to reach. We pray: Thanks be to God for His perfect gift of love.

We remember those who have died, that you carry each of them home in your loving arms to begin a new life in your glorious and eternal kingdom. We pray for those who mourn. Be close to them Lord, bring them strength and hope and healing in your promise. We pray: Thanks be to God for His perfect gift of love.

Lord, you bless our lives with occasions of joy and we give special thanks this morning for birthdays, wedding and baptismal anniversaries celebrated this week. We give thanks this morning and join in the celebration of the Ordination to the Priesthood of our Assistant Rector, Gina. As today’s psalm reading concludes: “Oh Lord of Hosts, Happy are they who put their trust in you.”  We pray: Thanks be to God for His perfect gift of love.

On this fourth Sunday of Advent as we wait, once again, for Mary and Joseph to complete their journey to Bethlehem and we ask what each one of us has to give to this holy child we pray, Lord let us not be afraid.  “Take our minds and think through them, take our lips and speak through them, take our lives and set them on fire with love for thee.” Amen

“The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name”.  So are the words given to Mary in her prayer of praise in Luke’s Gospel, and so, Lord, we too say these words as we look back on the year that is coming to an end, and look forward to the year to come.  In the remaining days of this Advent season, help us to remember all that You continually make possible for us as we say together: “The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.”

The readings today are filled with images of strength.  For those among us and those whom we love who are sick or afraid or in distress of any kind, we hear Isaiah’s words “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘be strong, do not fear – here is your God’ ”.  That they may feel God’s presence in their days of need.  We also remember those who have died and those who mourn for them.  Remembering God’s promise of strength in all our times of need, we pray together: “The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.”

In Paul’s letter to James, we hear “strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near”.  Strengthen your Church, oh Lord, that our hearts may be ready in all ways for your presence in our lives.  In the Anglican cycle of prayer, today we remember the people of the Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain.  In our own diocese, we remember the congregations of Nativity, Cedarcroft and Redeemer and Redemption Locust Point.  Here in our own Christ Church we give thanks for our congregation, for the newcomers and visitors here with us today, and for our clergy, Richard and Gina.  Strengthen Gina’s heart, oh Lord, as she prepares for her ordination to the priesthood this coming Saturday.  Recalling that through our baptism we each share in the royal priesthood of Jesus Christ, we pray together: “The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.”

Isaiah speaks also of joy: “and the ransomed of the Lord shall … come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads”.  Thank you, Lord, for the strength that occasions of joy bring to our lives.  Today we give thanks for the coming birthdays, wedding and baptismal anniversaries in our parish family this week.  For all that makes us glad, we pray together: “The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.”

Oh, Lord, on this third Sunday of Advent as we prepare yet again for the yearly remembrance of the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ, help us in all our busyness to remember it’s your coming we are preparing for.  Thank you for the image from Isaiah of the straight highway you make through our lives, for the image of Mary’s humble yet fierce song of praise for your dramatic presence in her life, for the image of John the Baptist, Jesus’ own herald, a messenger to “prepare your way before you.”   In thanksgiving for all the great things You have done for us, we say together:  Amen.

Loving Father, as we anticipate the coming celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, we give thanks for His presence in our lives today and anticipate His coming again in glory to bring truth and peace to all.  Let us pray saying:  God of light and peace, fill us with the hope of this season.

Anticipating the time when the wolf shall live with the lamb and the leopard shall lie with the kid, we lift in prayer those affected by today’s wars and other forms of violence.  We pray that those in positions of power find the humility, wisdom and will to end these conflicts.  Let us pray, God of light and peace, fill us with the hope of this season.

As we await that day when our Lord returns to bring justice for all, fill our hearts with love so that we can serve You by serving others, especially the victims of injustice and those whose circumstances are worse than ours.  Fill us with the desire to be transformed by Your love so we can help transform the world through compassion and generosity.  Let us pray: God of light and peace, fill us with the hope of this season.

We give thanks for the visit today of the Rev. Canon Scott Slater and, yesterday, for the On Beads of Prayer ministry.  In this Diocese, we pray for Messiah, Baltimore; Middleham & St. Peter’s, Calvert County; and Mount Calvary, Baltimore. In the Anglican cycle of prayer, we give thanks for the Lusitanian Church.  Let us pray: God of light and peace, fill us with the hope of this season.

We thank you for our Christ Church family and for the fellowship that we find here. We give thanks for strangers who were kind to us when we were new to Christ Church. We welcome those who are new or visiting here today as we were once welcomed.  Let us pray: God of light and peace, fill us with the hope of this season.

We thank you for our friends whose love sustained us when we were lonely, ill or afraid. We pray for comfort and hope for those suffering today.  Let us pray:   God of light and peace, fill us with the hope of this season.

We pray for those who have died, that we may one day join them in eternal life.  Let us pray: God of light and peace, fill us with the hope of this season.

We give thanks for the anniversaries of weddings, births, and other occasions of joy celebrated.  Let us pray; God of light and peace, fill us with the hope of this season.

During this coming week, let Your light of peace and love shine in our hearts, our homes and through our actions.  We ask these things in the name of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Advent, the season of preparation for Emmanuel – God with us. Advert, the season during which we are exhorted in our lessons and our hymns to wakefulness, watchfulness, hopefulness and being ready for the unexpected. Advent, the season with its imagery of walking, as we say together words from today’s psalm: “O house of Jacob, come let us walk in the light of the Lord”.

In this Advent season of wakefulness, help us be more attuned to the world about us, to those who live in fear or hunger, in sickness or despair, in loneliness or hopelessness. Help us through the work of our Church throughout the world to be your hands to those in need. Today in the Anglican Communion, we pray for the Church of Kimberly and Kuruman, South Africa; in our own diocese for Holy Trinity, Essex; Immanuel, Glencoe and Memorial, Bolton Hill; for
Eugene, John, Richard, Gina and all of us here today, including our newcomers and visitors. Together, we pray “O house of Jacob, come let us walk in the light of the Lord”.

In this Advent season of watchfulness we pray especially for those who are sick or dying and for those about to be born. We pray for those who watch over and care for them. We pray for those who have died. Together, we pray “O house of Jacob, come let us walk in the light of the Lord”.

In this Advent season of hopefulness, we give thanks for the joy of birthdays, wedding anniversaries and baptism anniversaries. This Thanksgiving weekend we are especially thankful for our families and those we love, nearby
and far away. We also pray for safe journeys of all who travel this weekend. Together, we pray “O house of Jacob, come let us walk in the light of the Lord”.

In this Advent season of trying to be ready for the unexpected, we give thanks that you, Lord are ever with us, that you are Emmanuel, God with us, as we face that seemingly impossible task. Help us remember that you are always with us, wrapping us in your love and lighting our path to you. Amen.

Savior, Christ, we worship this morning, so grateful for a love that gathers us up, forgives us, teaches us, redeems us and blesses us with the gift of this Church which we call home and this Church family which we call our own.  Our lives overflow with the unmerited abundance of your love and care and we each pray that we may serve you well with thankful hearts, saying together, What I have I give you.

May Your Holy Spirit preside over our Annual Meeting and our election of Vestry members today.  Heavenly Father we pray for discernment and wisdom and we give you our thanks.  You know our hearts as we come before you and as we offer our pledge.  We pray saying, What I have I give you.

We warmly welcome all who are new or are visiting with us this morning and in the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for the Anglican Observer at the United Nations and the Anglican UN Advisory Team in Geneva.  In our Diocese we give thanks for Good Shepherd, Towson, and Grace, Brunswick. We pray; What I have I give You.

We pray for compassionate and Christ-Centered hearts to care for those who are hungry or oppressed and for all who suffer in mind, body or spirit.  May they find strength through Your love.  May we be your heart, hands and feet in this world.  Lord God; we pray, What I have I give You.

We pray this morning for those who have died, that in Your love they are safely carried home into Your arms and the peace and joy of their eternal home with You.  Humbly we pray, What I have I give you.

We pray and rejoice in the occasions of joy and celebration in our lives; for birthdays and anniversaries of weddings and baptisms, saying Lord, What I have I give You.

The heart of the Apostle Paul speaks to us this morning as he wrote to Timothy “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  Lord, be our guide; grant us the strength, the courage, the focus and the singleness of purpose to serve you well all the days of our life that at our life’s end we might be able to each speak those powerful words.  Amen