Welcome to the FWW Prayer Guide for December. We hope it will be useful for personal prayer, but also for those who lead intercessions in church. We use the guide as the basis of our prayers at the monthly online prayer meeting, which this month is on Tuesday, December 5th, 1 – 1.30 pm. For the Zoom link please email comms@faithatwork.org.uk
Advent encourages us to look for the presence of God, in Christ, in our world. We light candles as a sign of Christ’s light that dispels the darkness, and sing carols which cry out for God’s presence – O Come, O come, Emmanuel . . There is, in this, something of our need to hope for something better, for our world, ourselves and society – including the way people work. The headline inflation figure in the UK has come down to less than 5%, but there is still a real squeeze for many in managing household budgets. Wages have risen but it remains the case that lower paid workers are impacted disproportionally, with reports of record numbers of people accessing the support of food banks. We need to hold on to the hope, which Christ’s coming brings.
There is also judgement in this Advent anticipation. God’s light in our world exposes the faults and failures of our economic system, which should lead us to repentance and confession. For how we so easily forget the needs of our neighbours – in our own communities and globally; for how we fail to welcome the stranger and refugee; for how we neglect our economic responsibilities in safeguarding the environment and those most at risk from climate change.
Almighty God, as we look for Christ’s coming this Advent fill us with His living hope that, despite the changes and chances of our lives and our world, you will lead us to that New Heaven and New Earth for which we yearn.
We pray especially for those who feel hopeless in the face of economic uncertainty, that they may see Christ’s light burning in their darkness.
And as that light shows us the many things for which we should repent, in our lives and our economy, give us the words and actions which lead to the change which you desire, that, with the dawning of the light, we may see your Kingdom come, through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh.
Amen
Especially we pray for:
- Victims of war and conflict in Ukraine and the Holy Land, and for peace and reconciliation.
- Hope for all who feel hopeless and drained and in need of encouragement in their work.
- The COP28 conference in the UAE, running from November 30th – December 12th, and the economic changes which are desperately needed if climate change is to be tackled.
- A true repentance for the way our economic behaviour impacts others and the planet.
- Those on low pay, or a fixed income, for whom the high cost of living brings particular anxiety.
- For Christmas initiatives in chaplaincy, particularly with workers in the retail sector in Pershore, Redditch, Kidderminster, Alvechurch and Upton.
- Continuing initiatives within FWW to recruit new chaplains, and find new opportunities for chaplaincy in different sectors of the economy, and for new volunteers to help with the running of FWW.
- For continuing discussions with regional denominational partners (Diocese, District, Synod etc) about renewing the ecumenical commitment to workplace chaplaincy through FWW’s status as an Ecumenical Partnership.
- In our cycle of prayer this month for: Chaplains at Worcester Livestock Market – Brenda Williams, Tim Richards, Sue Adeney.
- Trustees representing the Roman Catholic Archdiocese – Christine Dodd and Christopher Harvey