bidding prayer 2012
I welcome you, on behalf of The Mariners’ Club, Mission to Seafarers, Apostleship of the Sea, Danish Seamen Church, German Seamen Mission.
We have come together as the family of God, in our Father's presence, to celebrate the great festival of Christmas. In this service we hear and receive the good news of the birth of Christ and we offer to God our thanksgiving in the joyful singing of carols.
As we gather together in the name of Christ, we pray for the world he came to save:
for the Church, that it may be enabled in our generation to surrender anew to God's holy Wisdom, and bear the good news of God's love to a needy world;
for the world, which is already Christ's, that all its peoples may recognize their responsibility for its future, and may be inspired by the message of Christmas to work together for the establishment of justice, freedom and peace everywhere;
for all in special need, the sick, the anxious, the lonely, the fearful and the bereaved, that the peace and light of the Christ-child may bring hope and healing to all who sit in darkness.
We commend all whom we love, or who have asked for our prayers, to the unfaling mercy of our heavenly Father, and say together, as Christ himself taught us :
The Lord's Prayer is said