Prayers for a
carol service
This selection of prayers for a carol service will help
you remember those living in poverty this Christmas,
and reflect on the difference your precious gifts can
make to lives in Nigeria.
Opening words
Each Christmas, we celebrate God’s precious
gift to us – his only son, Jesus. One of the
ways that we mark this is to share gifts with
one another, and this year, with Christian Aid,
we also celebrate the precious gifts that can
prevent malaria and save lives in Nigeria.
Opening prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
child in a manger,
Thank you for your gifts
of peace, hope, love and joy.
We pray for the world
into which you were born.
We lift to you
those living in poverty,
those who are oppressed,
those forced to flee their homes.
Recognising their stories
in the tale of your nativity.
Prayer of confession
God,
You chose to let your child be born in poverty
and of doubtful parentage
in an occupied country with unstable rulers.
You chose to let him risk death in a dirty stable
after a long journey by a pregnant teenager.
You chose to let him grow up poor, and in
danger, and misunderstood by those who
loved him.
While the rich are still full
and it is the poor who are sent away empty,
help us, lest we, in our ignorance or anger
walk away, from those who have no choice.
Amen.
From: Creation Sings Your Praise: A Christian
Aid Worship Book, Canterbury Press, 2009.
Prayers of intercession
Loving God,
As we remember Mary and Joseph’s journey
we pray for those forced to travel long
distances,
to flee from conflict,
to seek work,
to fetch water.
We pray for Jummai from Nigeria, who walks
5km to her nearest healthcare centre when
her young twins catch malaria.
God, bring the precious gift of hope.
As we remember that the inns were full,
we pray for those the world forgets;
those without a safe place to sleep,
those without the help they need to get by.
We pray for clinics in Nigeria, often out of
stock of the medicines their
communities need.
Lord, bring the precious gift of hope.
As we remember the celebrating shepherds
and the singing of the angels,
we pray for those who need to hear your
message of hope,
those who missed out on education,
Prayers for a carol service
those whose livelihoods are threatened by
climate change.
We pray for the many people in Nigeria who
do not know what causes malaria, and are
therefore so defenceless against it.
Lord, bring the precious gift of hope.
As we remember your birth in a stable
we pray for those shining light in the
darkness;
for those who volunteer to help their
communities,
for those who give, campaign and pray
for change.
We pray for Christian Aid’s partners in
Nigeria, the Centre for Gospel Health
and Development, and Aguata Diocesan
Community Human Services.
Lord, bring the precious gift of hope.
Closing blessing
May our lives and our prayers
be like lights shining
in dark places.
And may the
blessing of God –
Father,
Son
and Holy Spirit –
fill our hearts and homes
with light this Christmas
and in the new year to come.
Amen.
From: Shine on, Star of Bethlehem,
Canterbury Press, 2014.
Precious gifts
To order donation envelopes to
hold a collection at your carol
service, please call 0870 078 7788
or email [email protected]
quoting: F2332.
Twice the impact! This Christmas, the UK Government
will again match every pound raised* – meaning we can
transform the lives of even more people living in poverty.
*Up to £5 million on donations received between 6 November 2015 and 5 February 2016.
UK registered charity no. 1105851 Company no. 5171525 Scot charity no. SC039150 Christian Aid Ireland: NI charity no. NIC101631 Company no.
NI059154 and ROI charity no. 20014162 Company no. 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. Christian Aid is
a key member of ACT Alliance. © Christian Aid August 2015 15-J5014