02A*
A Call to Worship
Advent 2A 2010
Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19

We gather to worship our God, who is our Eternal Ruler!
We give thanks that our holy God is just and merciful.
Let us worship the God who is totally merciful and kind.

We come to offer our praises to God, who hears the
cries and the tears of poor and malnourished people.
Let us worship the God who is totally compassionate.

We rejoice in the way God’s powers as Ruler of all
things, visible and invisible, who is utterly to be trusted.
Let us worship the God who is totally trustworthy. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession
Advent 2A 2010
Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19

God of compassion and mercy, we bring before you this day
the needs of your people throughout the world, many of whom
are suffering under unjust regimes; violently oppressive leaders;
and for whom there is no avenue to seeking or obtaining justice.
Lord, hear our prayers:
We bless God’s glorious name forever.

God of justice and peace, we pray for the leaders of this world,
that true leadership will be shown, so that there are no victims of
the abuse of power, or of the mismanagement of their resources.
Lord, hear our prayers:
We bless God’s glorious name forever.

We pray for the work of the United Nations and its ‘Peace Keepers’,
that they may have an understanding of their role in helping nations
return to times of peace and prosperity; and where all citizens
under their care will have equal rights and opportunities for health,
education, worthwhile employment, and a settled family life.
Lord, hear our prayers:
We bless God’s glorious name forever.

God of all creation and its renewal, we pray this planet - our home.
May the earth be sustained through a united effort of all people, so
that the degradation and destruction of God’s glorious world can
be halted and reversed; and so that the fullness and glory of God,
the Creator and Sustainer can be fully shared and celebrated.
Lord, hear our prayers:
We bless God’s glorious name forever.

We pray for God’s coming reign of peace and justice for all people.
May we each take responsibility for our share in the coming of God’s
holy reign, when every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess the
glory and majesty of our God, the Beginning and the End of all things.
Lord, hear our prayers:
We bless God’s glorious name forever. Amen.

A Personal Meditation
Advent 2A 2010
Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19

God, you are the Great and Glorious One, and your holy powers
are beyond my imagination. I know that in this world, this region,
and this country, that there are good leaders, good people, and
good workers who care about the people and the tasks for which
they have responsibility; but I also know that there are leaders who
care for no one but themselves and their selfish desires and their
grandiose plans and schemes that are centred only on themselves.

Creative pause: May I accept people’s contributions without bias.


God, you are the Supreme Being for all time, I am concerned about the
‘little people’ and the ‘voiceless people’; as they are the people who have
no advocate to aid them in any way. They are overrun by the power and
might of conglomerates and multinational companies, whose origins are
in another country, and for whom the little, voiceless people are only a
number or name on a computer. O Lord my God, how can I help them?

Creative pause: I feel helpless before the powers of business moguls.


God, you are the Father of all people, I am especially concerned for the
women and girls of this world who have no status, no rights, and not even
a voice to make their needs known to others. I pray that the women and
girls of this world who know and worship God will take the concerns of
their underprivileged sisters to God, seeking help for their suffering sisters.

Creative pause: May I always remember how fortunate I am.


God, you are the Awesome Mystery of the Eternal God, I feel so helpless
when faced with the tragedies of life which unfold before me each day.
I know I cannot carry the world on my own shoulders, but I can lift in prayer
the plight of people before the awesome powers of my God. May God’s
Kingdom of justice, peace and love come to this fragile earth and her
peoples, so that people will learn what true leadership is; what true
justice and mercy really is; and that equality of opportunity is not just
and unrealistic dream! O Lord my God, hear my concerns for others today.

Creative pause: May God’s Kingdom come and God’s will be done!


Acknowledgements:
Unless stated otherwise, all Bible readings and extracts used in these weekly Prayers and Meditations are from
‘The New Revised Standard Version’ Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council
of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 *The additional weekly numbering is from the Revised COCU Indexing Scheme
COCU = ('Consultation on Church Union'); as it offers an easy sequential numbering
for the Revised Common Lectionary for the Church Calendar.

If any part of these Prayers and/or Meditations is used in shared worship, please provide
the following acknowledgement:
© 2010 Joan Stott – ‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year A. Used with permission.

jstott@netspace.net.au

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