Prayer Page

Prayers for the period 18 December 2025 – 3 January 2026 (Advent 4, Christmas Day and beyond!)

“ You are a gift. Made with love.”

Prayer for Advent 4

Holy God, as Advent draws to a close, your gospel shines all the more brightly with messages of hope and promise, of love and care, of gifts already given and gifts for the present and for the future. …………Holy God, remind us afresh of the Angel’s appearances, of the sparkle and shine that their words and their messages add to our everyday lives. May we be able to offer their messages and gifts with love, compassion and care…………Holy God, sharing your love is work that is often hard. But when we sit back and look at what a difference we’ve made we rejoice that we are made with love and live to love in your name……….Gift-giving God, may Advent be for us a time of giving and receiving.

Advent Action

Think about how Jesus identifies with the homeless person or the foodbank user. Put together a bag of groceries to give to a local homeless charity or foodbank.

Lord, you alone know our hearts, our histories and our hopes. You alone know our futures and our fears. Lead us on, so that whatever part we may play, our story may be shaped by your story, through Jesus, son of Mary, and given a name through Joseph. Amen. Roots

Prayer for Christmas Day

Emmanuel, God is with us! The Lord is King! Let earth rejoice! A babe was born in Bethlehem, homeless, stateless, laid in a manger surrounded by love unconditional. Jesus the Christ Child born for each one of us.,,,,,,,, A babe, a gift, the best, treasured, adored, worshipped; with Mary let us ponder the greatness of the gift, treasuring it beyond measure in the depths of our being. A God-given babe whose very being changed the world order changes us, transform us, empowers and enlivens us. Let us now and for always treasure the gift in our hearts.

Emmanuel, God is with us! The Lord is King! Let earth rejoice!

World

Loving God, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate your coming to us as flesh – Emmanuel, Saviour –we ask that you heal and guide our wounded world. We pray for areas where choices need to be made, and for those who make these decisions. Where the wrong path has been taken, or new circumstances arisen, may minds and hearts be changed. We pray that your light would puncture the darkness and bring hope and peace.

We pray especially for Peace in Ukraine; for peace, order and stability in the Middle East; for food and shelter for those displaced as a result of famine in East Africa.

Church

We pray for our Circuit churches as they look to celebrate Christmas in their respective communities, with special services and events to mark the season, especially the Christingle and midnight Communion services on Christmas Eve, and the Christmas Day Services in each of our churches. We pray for people attending who would not otherwise do so at other times in the year, that they feel welcomed, included and loved.

We also pray for the following events in the week before Christmas, that those attending will be touched by God and made aware of the love of God;

18/12/25 the Holyhead Cytun Carol Singing groups going into Plas Dwyffryn Care Home.
19/12/25 the Amlwch Cytun Carol Singing group going into Brwynog Care Home and then outside the Co-op store.
19/12/25 the Bangor Carol Singing group going supporting Jacqueline at Glyn Menai/ Ceris Newydd Care Home at Treborth.
22/12/25 Messy Church at St Paul’s, Penmaenmawr.

God of love, at this time of the year so many people are lost or lonely. Giving thanks for the love that we know in our own lives, we pray for all who are struggling with depression or fear. May our churches be places of sanctuary for all; offering generous welcome, peace, warmth and kindness. May we show Jesus to all we meet and lift the burdens of those who are struggling.

We pray for the student community in the Bangor area. We give thanks for those students graduating this week and particularly those who have contributed so richly to the life of St John’s – they will be sorely missed! We also pray for those international students who will be remaining in the area over the Christmas period and all those travelling, that they will remain safe.

May the God who knows where we come from and where we should be going, go with us. May the God who knows our hopes and dreams, bless us – and others through us – more than we can possibly imagine. May the God who was with Joseph and Mary in all that they faced, be known to us as Immanuel – God with us. Amen.