Prayer diary written by Hilary Prescott

WED 1 Almighty God, we commit to you our vicar, curate and lay-reader and the other Offa Mission Area clergy. May they be granted the energy, patience and wisdom they need at this busy time of the year.

THURS 2  Thank you, Heavenly Father, that the Friendship Guild Advent Service is taking place this afternoon at St. Mary’s. We pray that all who attend will find it a stimulating and joyful occasion and a fitting opening to the Advent season.

FRID 3  As schools begin to wind down at the end of a busy and complex term, we pray for energy for the staff and good health for all so that events do not have to be altered or cancelled.

SAT 4  Lord, may your blessing rest on all who live in Halton, near Chirk.

SUN 5  Thank you, O Lord, for our congregations in St. David’s, Fron, and St. Mary’s in Chirk. Please bless our members and help them to uphold the fellowship enjoyed. May this Advent prove a blessed and enriching time for all. We pray for the child being baptised at St. Mary’s in the afternoon and ask that the family’s journey of faith will prove a fruitful one.

MON 6  God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sin.  Beloved , since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.  1 John 4.9-11

TUES 7 Almighty God, we give thanks that the Celtic Services are restarting and ask you to bless the organisers and all who are taking part at this evening’s worship.

WED 8  HUMAN RIGHTS DAY is scheduled  for Friday, so we pray, O God our Creator, Judge and Redeemer, for all people who are victims of neglect, oppression and injustice. We give thanks for the brave people who suffer because they are doing their best to highlight injustices and fight against evil. Please bless them and the people and organisations working to ensure their needs are met.

THURS 9   May your blessing, Lord, rest on all attending today’s Eucharist at St. Mary’s. We give thanks for this sacrament and the way it reminds us of your love and saving grace. Please bless, too, the Advent Group meeting at Ruabon, and their church’s, St. Mary’s. ‘Light up a Light’ service in the evening.

FRID 1O  Almighty God, we give thanks for our  loyal and expert Bell-ringing team and ask you to bless them as they help proclaim the presence of your church and so witness to your presence.  May their attempt at a special peal of bells today be an enjoyable and successful one.

SAT 11  O God, we bring before you all who live along Alma Road in Fron and ask that they might experience your blessing. We also commit to you the St. David’s Christmas Coffee and Mince Pies Morning at Fron and pray for its success.

SUN 12  Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the children and their families who attend our churches and ask you to bless them and encourage them on their journey of faith.

MON 13  Let us thank God for the staff of Chirk Court and ask Him to guide and bless them, especially in the Christmas period when restrictions might affect activities offered to the residents. We pray that God will bring peace, comfort and joy to  all at Chirk Court.

TUES 14  Lord God, we bring before you all who have Covid or have suffered from it. May they know your healing power and hope for the future. We also pray for people whose jobs and livelihood have been affected by the virus, and all who will be experiencing a difficult Christmas because of it.

WED 15  O God, we give thanks for the doctors, nurses and administrative staff at our local surgeries and hospitals.  We ask you to guide and sustain them in their vital work.  We also thank you, Heavenly Father, for all who work for the Ambulance Service in our area, including those brought in specially to help.   Please guide and bless those in charge of the management of the service, so that efficiency is achieved, and grant the wonderful workers the  patience, energy and skill they need.

THURS 16  Let us think of the people who are having to work hard to prepare for Christmas and New Year in the context of their families, friends as well as those in the workplace. Let us ask God to give them the time, energy, patience and support which they need. Lord, we pray too for a successful season for the businesses in our area, thinking particularly of the hotel and catering establishments.

FRID 17  Almighty God our Father, so often we take our freedom of body and mind for granted; we pray for all captives and those in prison, especially people who are being unjustly punished here and abroad. We also pray for the men at HMP Berwyn – and their families over Christmas-and the staff there.

SAT 18  Thank you, O Lord, for the links between the different churches in our area.  We ask you to bless their ministers  and congregations this Christmas tide .  May it not be long before we can all join together again.

SUN 19  Lord, we value the way our Christmas carols and traditional Bible Readings recall for us of the story and meaning of Christmas; may today’s Carol Service bring joy and thankfulness to all who attend, and prove an effective reminder that Christmas is not all about spending , presents and parties.

MON 20  Loving Lord God, we commit to you those people who at this time long to be in church but cannot attend. We pray too for all people in our area who will be housebound over the holidays and cannot celebrate the season as they wish.

TUES 21  SAINT  THOMAS  Lord, we give thanks for the life and ministry of Thomas and for the fact that he kept by Jesus his lord even though he had doubts at times, Please help and guide us in our faith when we are uncertain; we are grateful that we can be honest with you- for you know us inside out anyway!

WED 22  It came upon the midnight clear,/that glorious song of old,/from angels bending near the earth/to touch their harps of gold;/’Peace on the earth, goodwill to all,/from heav’n’s all-gracious King!’ The world in solemn stillness lay/to hear the angels sing.    And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,/whose forms are bending low,/who toil along the climbing way/with painful steps and slow:/look now! For glad and golden hours/come swiftly on the wing;/O rest beside the weary road,/and hear the angels sing.

THURS 23  O Creator God, we ask you to bless all who will be donating or arranging flowers and decorations in our churches for Christmas. Thank you for their generosity, and for the fact that we can enjoy their beauty and good cheer this year.

FRID 24 CHRISTMAS EVE  Almighty God, we rejoice that we can celebrate in church our Saviour’s birth . May your Holy Spirit watch over our Christmas services and all who are able to participate.

SAT 25 CHRISTMAS DAY  Eternal God, who made this most holy night to shine with the brightness of your one true light, bring us, who have known the revelation of that light on earth, to see the radiance of your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen  (Collect)

SUN 26  ST. STEPHEN  As we remember the courage and faith of the first Christian martyr, let us ask God to be with all those whose faith and commitment make them open to persecution and even death. And may we have the courage to live out our faith honestly and openly to the glory of Christ our Saviour.

MON 27  ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST  Heavenly Father, thank you for the loyalty and closeness of John to Christ  and for the powerful messages of the gospel and letters.  Help us to be loyal followers of Jesus as we too rejoice in Jesus’ desire for us to come close to him and to know and reflect his love.

TUES 28  HOLY INNOCENTS  Lord, we bring before you the modern young victims of power- hungry leaders: children suffering from deprivation, hunger, homelessness and the constant threat of violence and death. We also pray for the parents of such children, who suffer because their offspring suffer. Be with individuals and organisations who seek to help children and families in need.

WED 29  Let us pray for people who have been unable to enjoy a break over the holiday period; for those whose hard work has enabled us to make the most of Christmas and New Year celebrations.

THURS 30  O God, we pray for the safety and well-being of all who are travelling during this time, and ask you to guide all who are working to ensure people’s safety.

FRID 31  As we look back on the past year, let us give thanks for God’s blessings we have enjoyed, and remember that in difficult and unhappy times God has been with us and can help us learn from the sadness and problems we have encountered. May He forgive us for those periods when we have let him and others down.