We welcome Jesus, we welcome the king.
We welcome a time of hope and peace.
As we look forward to God’s kingdom, we hope for a time when peace will be the foundation and aim of all nations. We look to the leaders of nations, factions, armies and dictatorships where peace is not present, and we call them to respond to the suffering and heartache around them by negotiating and bringing peace. Among other places, we remember Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, North Korea, Haiti and Sudan.
God of all, you made everything and everyone. We pray that people will respond to your desire for all to live lives of peace and that hope would defeat harm. We pray for all those whose families, lives and futures have been destroyed by war and conflict.
We welcome Jesus, we welcome the king.
We welcome a time of love and care.
As we look forward to God’s kingdom, we hope for a time when love and care are the foundation for all that we do. We give thanks for those in caring professions and those who look after others.
God of all, you call all people who are willing to hear. We pray for our health professionals, education staff, parents and carers. We pray that they would be encouraged and strengthened in these times of tight budgets and lack of resources. We remember children and young people who may be facing worries and challenges, and we ask for your help for all who are struggling because of physical or mental health. May they and all in need feel your comfort and healing.
We welcome Jesus, we welcome the king.
We welcome a time of safety and well-being
As we look forward to God’s kingdom, we hope for a time when all will feel safe, protected and well. We ask that those who cause harm through bullying, abuse, internet stalking and cruel messaging may repent of the pain and damage they have caused.
God of all, you created us to live in safety. We pray for the police, the criminal justice system and all who work to protect others and investigate those who case harm. We pray for laws to be used wisely, so young and old alike can live free of fear of abuse and bullying. We pray for those who lead and set examples to young people that they would be wise in showing the risks of social media.
We welcome Jesus, we welcome the king.
We welcome a time of life and growth.
As we look forward to God’s kingdom, we hope for a time when all be full of the enjoyment of life and will grow in faith in you. We look to those who lead us in church, in our country and our neighbourhoods, that they would work to keep people safe and happy and that they would have the wisdom to spend limited money wisely.
God of all, you give us all we need. We pray for our government and parliament as they use scarce resources, plan budgets and work out how to spend money for the benefit of the nation. We pray for local elections in a few weeks and the campaigning that has just started. We remember our church leaders here and in this area and ask that they would work together across denominations to bring the life and growth that can be found in Jesus to our friends and neighbours.
We welcome Jesus, we welcome the king.
We welcome our life and call.
As we look forward to God’s kingdom, and remembering that amazing journey into Jerusalem, we look to ourselves. May each one of us, young and old, know the love of God through the gift of Jesus, the power of God through Jesus’ death and the joy of God through his resurrected life.
God of each one of us, you know all we are and all we need. We pray for ourselves.
May we hear your call on our lives and do all we can to share your love and your kingdom with others.
Amen.