SUN 1 ADVENT  Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen  (collect)

MON 2 Loving Lord, we bring before you the people we know who are ill, that they might know your healing touch and so find healing of body and mind.  We especially pray for people dealing with chronic illness and pain as well as those anxiously waiting for treatment.

TUES 3  Almighty God, we give thanks for the success of the Mini Markets this last season and all they offer to the local community as well as our church. May your blessing rest on those people who have worked so hard week by week to organise and keep the sessions running well, and also  those who provided goods and refreshments. May this final event prove a happy and successful one for all concerned.

WED 4  Heavenly Father, we ask for your blessing on all who live in Lloyd’s Lane, Chirk.

THURS 5 When the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  Titus 3 4-7

FRID 6  Loving Lord God, we commit to you our vicar, curate and others helping with ministry in our two churches and also those who serve in the other churches of the Offa Mission Area. Grant them the health, strength and peace they need at this very busy time of the Church Year.  Lord, may your blessing also rest on our churchwardens who work so hard to ensure that our services and other events work smoothly and effectively.

SAT 7 Let us give thanks and pray for everyone involved in running St. David’s Christmas Fair today, and ask God for a happy and successful day.

SUN 8  Lord God, we thank you for the young people who attend Sunday Club at St. Mary’s and for the church members who help them in their journey of faith; we ask for your blessing on them and on all who act as Sidespeople helping and welcoming the congregation.

MON 9 Tomorrow is Human Rights Day. O God of justice and freedom, we bring before you all who are denied those rights which enable them to live their lives safely and freely; all who are oppressed , enslaved; all who have lost homes and had to leave their countries because it is unsafe to live there.  We pray that they might find the help and support they need, and that you will empower all who work to restore their human rights. Help us too to realise that we may have rights, but we also have responsibilities.

TUES 10  On this day of the final  Mini Market of the year, let us give thanks to God for the team of loyal organisers and helpers who have made the markets such a success socially and financially, and ask his blessing to rest on the members.

WED 11 Lord, we pray for the staff and pupils of Garth School as they rehearse and perform their concert today at St. Mary’s; may the event be a happy success.

THURS 12  Heavenly Father, we pray that the Pentre School Concert at St. Mary’s will prove a successful and joyful event for the staff, performers and the parents who attend.

FRID 13 Loving Lord God, we ask for your blessing on the staff and residents of Chirk Court and pray for the Churches Together Carol Service taking place there today, that it will be well attended and a source of joy and peace.

SAT 14  Let us pray that the businesses and catering establishments of Chirk and Fron will have a happy and successful Christmas and New Year season.

SUN 15  Lord, we give thanks for our church organists who bring so much skill and commitment to their important work as they help us to worship you in an uplifting and beautiful way. Bless them, we pray, especially at this busy time.

MON 16  Almighty God, we bring before you our local families in the Christmas school holidays; may the parents be enabled to cope, especially if they are at work, and may those who struggle financially be given the support they need. Please be with the parents who have to prepare for the festivities, that they might find enough energy and time for their tasks.

TUES 17  Awake, awake: fling off the night!/for God has sent his glorious light;/and we who live in Christ’s new day/must works of darkness put away…The sing for joy and use each day;/give thanks for everything alway./Lift up your hearts; with one accord/praise God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

WED 18 Lord, send your blessing, we pray, on all who live in Alma Road, Fron.

THURS 19  Thank you, O Lord, for our local hospitals and their healing work. Please be with the staff, especially for those who will be working over the holiday season, and comfort the patients who have to be in hospital at that time. We pray also for families and friends who will be visiting them.

FRID 20 Heavenly Father, we ask for your blessing on the joint St. Mary’s and St. David’s Carol service this evening at Fron: may it be a time of joy and true fellowship.

SAT 21 Let us bring before God all who find the Christmas season difficult, especially those who have lost someone they love through death and who will feel their loss more acutely when the emphasis is on families and friends and being with people. May God’s blessing rest upon them.

SUN 22  There is nothing that makes us love another Person so much as praying for them.   William Law

MON 23  Lord God, we give thanks for all who have donated flowers and greenery to decorate our churches and all who will be arranging them. Send your blessing on them.

TUES 24  O God, may your Holy Spirit be present at our Christmas services today and tomorrow, so that all who attend may sense the awe, joy, hope and peace which the familiar words and music create.

WED 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. Amen   (Collect)

THURS 26 ST. STEPHEN  As we remember the first Christian martyr, Stephen, let us commit to God all who are facing persecution for their faith, and give thanks for all in the past who have suffered because of their witness to Christ.  Help us, O God, to have the courage to show our love for you in our own lives.

FRID 27 ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST  Let us give thanks for the life and work of the apostle and for the writer of the Gospel and Revelation; let us ask God to inspire us so that our actions and words encourage people to follow Christ.

SAT 28 HOLY INNOCENTS  Loving Lord, as we remember the story of Herod’s cruel and selfish killing of the little children, we pray for all children today whose lives are blighted or at risk because of oppressive governments, cruel or neglectful parents and people who prey upon them. We also bring before you parents who mourn the loss of their children or fear for their safety.

SUN 29    Let us give thanks to God for our Bell-ringing Team and the way their skills and hard work have helped proclaim the church and our faith through the year and have  marked of special occasions. Let us also thank God for the success of their fund-raising venture and pray for success in carrying out the project next year.

MON 30  O God, as we look back on the past year, help us to learn from our mistakes and from our successes, so that the months ahead bear good fruit and fit us more and more for your kingdom.

TUES 31 Let us pray for the safety of all who will be celebrating the end of one year and the arrival of a new, and ask God to be with all working in the Emergency services and all who will be working hard to ensure people have a pleasant time.