ADVENT SECOND WEEK — PRAYER SERVICE

ADVENT SECOND WEEK

INTRODUCTION

We the people of God, have come together to part take in the second week of Advent prayer service. With immense gratitude in our hearts come let us thank and praise the Lord almighty for His marvelous intervention in our life journey.  He had blessed us with another week of Advent where you and me able to spiritually prepare ourselves for the birth of Jesus. Mother Mary very instrumentally played a role of making herself worthy enough to give shape to God’s plan and purpose. Her profound concurrence for the Word of God made her to be the model for all of us. From time immemorial she is the hope for all of us on the way to salvation. Therefore let us venerate her with the angelic word as we sing

ANGELUS: 

Jesus our divine light,  we wish to illumine ourselves in order to spread peace on this earth. You have promised us that  we too can radiate the same love, peace and harmony in our midst by allowing ourselves to lit by your divine light.  Each advent candle has some special meaning behind it and presents an opportunity to think about the Christmas season in a new way. The second week of Advent takes us from thinking about hope to a related idea – peace – something we all need to think more about. Today, the Second Sunday of Advent we light the second candle, which is the symbol of PEACE. The candle’s name has its origins in the prophet Micah who prophesied Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. It is referred to as the Bethlehem Candle. As we light the candle of peace, let us commit all the people who all long to cherish Mental and Psychological peace and sing the hymn which was sung by St. Francis Assisi. I invite ————–to light the candle.

HYMN:                  Make me a channel of your peace

During this second week of Advent we are called to become the people of peace which was promised by our Lord. Recalling his promise and our fragile nature of going against of his word let us pray this psalm together.

Ps: 85: 9 -14

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and grant us your salvation. Help us to listen to John the Baptist as he cried in the wilderness ” Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight”. We are called to not only prepare ourselves for his coming but also to prepare the way for the Lord, the way which leads to the redemption of the souls, the way which opens the room for fraternity, the way which opens up new possibilities, the way which creates new chances and the way which excels in peace. Let us literally pay heed to the cry of John the Baptist through this  gospel passage.

READING:                                            Mark 1:1-8

Second week of advent signifies that the Lord of peace will be born in this universe in and through me. In what way do we need to prepare ourselves? Does the peace which Jesus promised prevail in me?

SILENCE:

Expressing our desire of preparation in a worthy manner and welcoming our Lord let us sing

HYMN:      Maranatha

Let our response be God of peace hear our prayer

1.                  Divine master, you being the Lord of the universe we adore you for your bountiful blessings. Help all the leaders of our Church and Nation to work for the welfare of the people in need of unity and loyalty. Make them to collaborate with the  people for their upliftment. Hear we pray—

2.                     God of life and love, we praise you for your mere presence amidst us. We remember and pray for all the people affected with natural calamity. Inspire the people to come forward to extend their support to these needy people. Stir up the society with your great understanding so that they may willingly serve the poor. Hear we pray——

3.                     Magnificent God, we love you for your manifold blessings and your abundant graces. We pray for all the people hoping to celebrate Christmas in a grand manner. May your spirit to enkindle them through which they may  take effective steps to give meaning for your son’s birth. Hear we pray——-

4.                     God the lover of peace, we bless you for this time of being present in your loving sanctuary. We pray for all the people striving for peace in the families, peace in the nation and peace in the planet. Mold everyone to give their ego, selfishness and individualism in order to create their families, nation and planet into a place of peace where your mere presence is experienced and enjoyed. Hear we pray—

Summing up all our prayers let us call upon the name of the Lord as we pray

Our father——-

CONCLUDING PRAYER:

Heavenly father, graciously accept everyone and our prayers. Open up a pathway in our midst so that your son may find a place in us. Eradicate the attitude of stubbornness from us so that we may be ever ready to change ourselves. Help us all to become the peacemakers through we and others may enjoy the assurance of peace. This we ask through Christ our Lord.