God longs to be revealed to us and to gather us as one. We speak our needs now in confidence, knowing that God will be present to us in all our difficulties and respond to all our needs.

As children of God, let us ask our heavenly Father to receive these prayers for the human family.

As the time of Advent waiting reaches its fulfillment, we call upon the name of God, who gives us new life.

With prayers and petitions, and with thanksgiving, we make our requests known to God.

Sisters and brothers, as Christians have done throughout the ages, we gather in prayer at the word of the Holy One, a word that also came to John the Baptist.

As a people of faith, we welcome another year of grace. Advent has begun, our lives change from the ordinary, and we enter into the work of this season of preparation. Let us call upon our God to hear the prayers of his expectant people.

As we reach the end of the church’s year, we celebrate Christ’s kingship as the crown of our celebrations of Christ’s life during this past year and also as the Lord of our lives. Let us pray to God, in whose kingdom we dwell.

We look to the day when the reign of God will be fully revealed.

Everything we have comes from God. God entrusts us with time and energy and resources so that we might be ministers of God’s blessings for others. Pray that we have the faith to be good stewards.

Gathered from every nation, race, people, and tongue, we offer our prayers to the God who saves us.