This months prayer diary written by Hilary Prescott

THURS 1  On this World Aids Day, let us pray for all who are suffering from this condition and those who are dedicated to helping them; let us also remember before God any people who are in the grip of chronic or wasting illnesses, and so pray for courage , comfort for them and their families and friends.

FRID 2  O God, we pray for all involved in St. David’s Christmas Fair in Fron tomorrow and ask that they might be granted the time and energy they need. We ask that the event will be a well attended and happy one.

SAT 3  Heavenly Father, we ask you to bless all taking part in events in Chirk surrounding the Switching on of the Christmas Lights and we pray too for a successful Messy Carols in St. Mary’s . May the businesses in Chirk flourish this Christmas season.

SUN 4  Thank you, Lord, for our Family Service and for the people leading it ; we pray that families attending might come to know you better day by day. We also pray that all of us might be able to do our best to ensure that the young people we meet might come to realise the true meaning of Christmas.

MON 5  Almighty God, we may your Holy Spirit rest on the congregations and ministers of the Offa Mission Area at this busy and key time of the Church year. May all leading services and events be granted not only inspiration, but also the energy and sense of joy that they need.

TUES 6  Lord, we pray that all involved in hospitality and catering businesses in our area might have a very successful and satisfying season.

WED 7  Heavenly Father, we pray for the staff and pupils of Pentre School and ask you to bless all involved in their concert s and presentations at St. Mary’s today.

THURS 8  Thank you, O God, for the opportunities we are granted to focus on our Christian Life in the Advent Group sessions. Please bless this final meeting and send the participants out rejoicing in their faith and in your Holy presence.

FRID 9  Heavenly Father, we ask you to bless all who live in The Nurseries in Chirk.

SAT 10  Father and Ruler of the Universe, on the Human Rights Day, we acknowledge that despite all the blessings you have showered upon us, members of the human race so often reject the need for understanding and appreciating each other and for showing love and care.  We pray for all who suffer because of this selfishness and ask you to empower all who are doing their best to bring love, justice, mercy and hope to the suffering.

SUN 11  Loving Lord, please send your blessing on the Christingle Service at St. David’s, Fron , this afternoon; we pray that it will be well attended and prove a safe and happy occasion. May the church’s links with the community flourish in the months ahead.

MON 12  Heavenly Father, we commit to you our local schools as they come to the end of a hectic term; please help everyone to keep going. May the families know a happy and unstressful holiday time.

TUES 13 Lord, we ask for your blessing on all who live on Alma Road, Fron.

WED 14  Let us give thanks for and pray for all the churches in the Chirk area as they prepare for Christmas.

THURS 15  In the bleak mid-winter/frosty wind made moan,/earth stood hard as iron,/water like a stone;/snow had fallen, snow on snow,/snow on snow,/in the bleak mid-winter , long ago….What can I  give him,/poor as I am?/If I were a shepherd/I would bring a lamb;/If I were a wise man/I would do my part,/yet what I can I give him:/give my heart.

FRID 16   Heavenly Father, we bring before you the residents and staff of Chirk Court, that they might enjoy a happy and healthy festive time. We pray that Churches Together Christmas services might bring further joy and hope to all concerned.

SAT 17  Thank you, O Lord, for all the members of our congregations who set to and clean our churches; bless them, we pray and grant them the time and energy they need, especially at this busy period.

SUN 18  O God, we rejoice that we can enjoy singing carols together and hearing the Bible stories of the first Christmas. Please bless the Carol Service at St. David’s this evening, that it might be a happy time of worship and fellowship.

MON 19  Loving Lord God, we ask you to be with the staff and patients at Chirk Hospital and other local hospitals; comfort and strengthen all who have to stay in hospital over the festive season- and their visitors too. Send your healing spirit on all whom we know who are ill at this time.

TUES 20  Almighty God, we hold up to you today all who are feeling tired, frustrated and anxious as they prepare for Christmas; may they be granted the support and encouragement they need.

WED 21  St. Thomas   O Lord, as we remember Thomas, let us pray for all Christians who face doubts and uncertainties in their faith, especially at this time of year. May your Holy Spirit guide them towards the Truth.

THURS 22   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,  and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God….And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.  John 1:1,2, 14

FRID 23  We give thanks, O God, for all in our churches who are involved in making them look beautiful for Christmas, and for those who donate flowers and decorations. Please bless and inspire them in their work.

SAT 24  Heavenly Father, may your blessing rest on the ministers and the congregations at today’s Crib Service at St. Mary’s, and the Holy Communions at St. David’s and St. Mary’s today and tomorrow. May all involved know a real sense of joy and peace.

SUN 25 CHRISTMAS DAY  Almighty God, you have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;  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

MON 26  ST. STEPHEN  As we remember the death of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, let us pray for all who are facing persecution and even death for their Christian witness and faith., and ask God to grant them the courage and strength they need and a sense of His loving and protective presence with them.

TUES 27  ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST  Thank you, O Lord, for the life and witness of St. John. May we too be loyal followers of Christ and encourage people around us to get to know Him better.

WED 28  HOLY INNOCENTS  Heavenly Father, we bring before you today all children who are victims of violence, cruelty and neglect; the unloved and seemingly unlovable; those who suffer from chronic and painful illnesses and the orphans and homeless. We pray too for individuals and organisations working to improve the lot of such sufferers and ask for your blessing too on parents who grieve to see their own children suffer or who mourn their loss.

THURS 29  Loving Lord God, we pray for all who have problems with their hearing. Grant them the support they need.

FRID 30  There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory.  Sir Francis Drake 1540-1596

SAT 31 As we look back on the year, Lord, its physical sicknesses and it moral and social ills, it can be easy to blame others for what we see as wrong. May we recognise where we ourselves have let you and others down: forgive us our sins and help us to be better people in the year ahead.