A Prayer for New Year’s Eve 2020, based on the Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…..

As we come to the end of a year like no other and as we face the challenges of the coming year, we choose to declare the glory of your name in our lives and our homes, our family and our community. You are our Father, and we lift up your name and honour you.

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We proclaim, in the face of the enemy, that your kingdom is coming and has now come. Help us in these times to be a people who will usher in your kingdom, a people who will be your hands and feet, your voice of love, carriers of your justice and peace, signposts to show others the way home.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Thank you, that your provision is fresh every day. Give us grace to know what we need and what we can do without and to share what we have with open hearts and hands in this time of great need.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

We confess that we have fallen short of your standards. Forgive us that we haven’t sought you with our whole hearts but have placed our trust elsewhere. Show us where we need to release forgiveness to others so that your kingdom can be released in them and us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Thank you, that Jesus has shown us what it means to have clean hands and a pure heart so that we can stand before you and stand our ground in the face of all our troubles. We ask for your hand of mercy over this nation and over our families and those we love. Inspire, strengthen and protect those who lead us and care for us.

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.

We proclaim your kingdom. We declare that you are sovereign in heaven and on earth and in us because of the work of Jesus. Holy Spirit, fill us again and show us how to pray. Inspire us, empower us and cause hope to rise in us and through us in the year to come. Amen.

Rachael Stone. 28/12/2020