Parish Novena of Prayer
In preparation for the Feast of St. Nicholas
Parish Church of St. Nicholas, St. Nicholas at Wade, Kent, England
 St. Nicholas Center Collection |
Novena for St Nicholastide is our call to seek to serve Christ in those around us and beyond, so that others may know the joy of being a disciple of him who comes to us through the humility and perseverance of the young Holy Mother, and her son, born in a cave, incarnate in order that his kingdom may transform a broken people and world into a kingdom of peace and light. What a Christmas gift that could be!
The Spiritual Riches of Life
27 November — 5 December
Welcome and Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Come Holy Spirit
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Heavenly Father,
shepherd of your people,
we thank you for your servant Nicholas,
who was faithful in the care and nurture of your flock;
and we pray that,
following his example,
the teaching of his holy life,
and with the aid of his prayers,
we may by your grace
grow into the full stature
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Reading
offered each day
1 John 4:7–14
1 John 4:7–14
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Prayer
Intercessions and thanksgivings for church, school, family and community
Good St Nicholas,
Help us prepare for the miracle of the coming of Jesus.
Help us not to be blind to the gifts of getting ready.
Help us be sincere in the greetings we send and receive, with love and prayer.
Kind St. Nicholas, protect us from shoppers' fatigue, stress, overspending,
yet help us to be kind and generous of heart to all,
especially those who are alone, financially poor and fearful.
May our celebration of your feast lead others to see the true meaning of giving and receiving
and to guide all people to The greatest of all gifts,
even Jesus Christ, prince of peace and child of Mary,
Our Lord and only saviour.
Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The theme of each day of the Novena is presented by the leader as it relates to parish ministry, the season of Advent and in light of the witness of faith of Blessed Nicholas of Myra, Saint in Bari.
Silence follows the reflection.
The Spiritual Riches of Life
DAY 1—November 27th: Faithfulness
DAY 2—November 28th: Generosity
DAY 3—November 29th: Adoration
DAY 4—November 30th: Solidarity
DAY 5—December 1st: Joy
DAY 6—December 2nd: Healing (Anointing may be offered)
DAY 7—December 3rd: Peace
DAY 8—December 4th: Prayer
DAY 9—December 5th: Community
Closing Prayer
ETERNAL GOD, in your great love you gave your servant NICHOLAS a perpetual name for deeds of kindness on land and sea. Grant that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor and the help of those who are tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through JESUS CHRIST our LORD, who lives and reigns with you and the HOLY SPIRIT, one GOD, now and for ever. Amen.
The following may be sung:
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
The Dismissal
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all evermore. Amen.
From the Revd James Rosenthal, the Parish Church of St. Nicholas, St. Nicholas at Wade, Kent, England.. Used by permission.