"The Church of the Warm Heart and the Open Mind"
A MEMBER CHURCH OF THE CONGREGATIONAL FEDERATION
A MEMBER CHURCH OF CHURCHES TOGETHER IN WALKDEN
WELCOME TO THE WEBSITE OF
WALKDEN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
We are situated at the heart of the community, close to the crossroads in the centre of town, between Walkden Gateway and the Gill Medical Centre, opposite the Shopping Precinct.
As our Church Motto says, we seek to be,
"a church with a warm heart and an open mind."
Some years ago the Church Meeting resolved that these fine words should be more than just a motto and so applied to register our church for Same Sex Marriages. Confirmation that we are legally authorised to conduct same-sex marriages was confirmed on the 21st of December 2016.
We were the first mainstream Christian Church in the City of Salford to offer this ministry.
We believe that for the Gospel to truly be "Good News"
it must be a gospel of;
extravagant grace,
radical inclusion
and relentless compassion.
To that end, we welcome people of all ages and backgrounds
and affirm that God`s love as revealed in Jesus Christ
is for everyone and not just a chosen few.
You are welcome to join us for worship any Sunday morning at 11am and to get to know us better over a cup of tea or coffee.
Jesus didn`t reject anyone -
Neither do we -
Whoever you are -
Wherever you are on life`s journey -
You are welcome here!
For PARTY BOOKINGS or HALL HIRE, see the menu bar below for the relevant contact details. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE MINISTER
SUNDAY JANUARY 4TH 2026
EPIPHANY SUNDAY
Call to Worship
People of God, arise, shine, for your light has come!
The light of Christ has come into the world.
Immanuel.
God with us.
So arise, shine, for your light has come!
And we will follow the light–
when it shines brightly in the night sky
when it glows dimly on the horizon.
We will follow the light–
when it leads down familiar paths to expected destinations
when the road is unfamiliar and the star rests above a dubious-looking home.
We will lift up our eyes and look around.
And when we see the Christ child,
may our hearts be overwhelmed with joy.
When we are in the presence of Immanuel,
may our knees bend in worship.
When our journey brings us, finally, to the heart of God,
May our hands open in generous sharing;
May our mouths open in generous praise.
Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Blessed are you, O Christ, our God;
you were before time began,
and came to the world to save us.
Blessed are you, Sun of righteousness;
you shine with the Father's love
and illumine the whole universe.
Blessed are you, Son of Mary;
born a child
you shared our humanity.
Blessed are you, son of David;
born to rule,
you received gifts from the wise men.
Blessed are you, Son of Man;
baptised by John,
you saved us from ourselves.
Blessed are you, heavenly King;
teaching and preaching, healing and comforting,
you proclaimed the kingdom.
With all the voices of heaven
we celebrate the coming of our Saviour.
Let heaven and earth shout their praise.
With all the creatures on earth
we sing and dance at your birth.
Praise and glory to you, O Lord Jesus Christ.
Most holy and most loving God, we admit to you and to each other,
that we are creatures who either through foolishness or wilfulness
often choose darkness instead of light.
Here and now, we surrender to you our fears and proud opinions,
our short-sighted folly and our pompous wisdom,
our deep-seated sins and our apathy towards change and renewal.
Forgive the darkness and pain we have inflicted on others,
and restore the light-starved hopes and ideals within our own souls.
Trusting your grace, we earnestly pray: “Create in us a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within us.”
Through Christ Jesus our Saviour. Amen!
Assurance of Pardon
My friends, The Epiphany is good news!
The Light comes not to sear and blind us but to save us.
Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners.
In his name I declare to you: Yours sins are forgiven!
Thanks be to God!
The Lord`s Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
Bathed in starlight, we pray together
to the One who created all things, saying,
Show us your child, O God,
For we observed a new star at its rising
and have travelled far, bearing gifts.
Make your wisdom in its rich variety known through all faithful people,
and give your holy church grace to bear the gifts of truth and love
to all your children on earth.
Show us your child, O God,
For we walk together in faith.
Give your justice to the nations and their leaders,
and give your mercy to all whose decisions
affect the peace and well-being of the world.
Where we have power ourselves,
open our ears to the cries of the weak, the poor, and the needy,
and open our hearts to answer their call.
Show us your child, O God,
For we walk together in hope.
Bless this community,
that in your light we may each become a servant, one to the other.
Bring us together in story, song, joy, and sorrow;
and let every daughter and son who comes among us
find kinship in this place.
Show us your child, O God,
For we walk together in love.
Have mercy on those among us
who journey in sickness, fear, or any kind of trouble.
Meet them on your road with rest, peace, and good cheer.
Show us your child, O God,
For we walk together by your side.
We remember those who have died.
Your star goes before them. Show them your child, O God,
For they have travelled far to be with you.
Dear God, with longing and thanksgiving,
knowing that you hold this world and all its children dear in your heart,
we pray this night for the grace to receive your gifts,
to lift up our eyes and look around,
and to offer back those same gifts to you and your world, with love.
Show us your child, O God,
For we observed a new star at its rising and have travelled far, bearing gifts.
To the One who is the road on which we travel,
our companion along the way, and our journey’s end,
we pray in boldness and confidence through faith in Christ Jesus,
Amen.
The Dismissal
Go now as a light to the nations.
Honour the Lord;
preach what you know of the risen Christ,
and fulfil all righteousness.
And may God strengthen you and bless you with peace;
May Christ Jesus bring forth justice for you and among you;
And may the Holy Spirit alight on you
and affirm you as God’s beloved ones.
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
In the name of Christ. Amen.
The Grace
SUNDAY JANUARY 11TH
THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST
Call to Worship
The heavens open. The Spirit descends.
Jesus emerges from the water.
And a voice echoes through the blue expanse.
"This is my child, the Beloved, with whom I am well-pleased."
Jesus is named. Claimed.
We come to the water. We remember we are named. Claimed.
Can it be so? What a thing to be named. Claimed.
Let us worship the one who names and claims us still.
Prayers of Approach and Confession
The voice of our God and King is heard in blessing,
as it echoes in its majestic powers over all creation.
We come to worship you, our God, and to celebrate the
Mystery and Reality that is your everlasting glory.
Your voice is heard in all creation and it responds
with joy to its Creator, Sustainer and Renewer.
We come to worship our God, and to celebrate your
power and generosity towards all creation and all peoples.
We come to worship our God, and to celebrate the
way we are welcomed into your glorious presence.
Your voice is heard in the sacred
spaces and your grace is received as we worship.
We are incredibly stubborn, O Lord.
We have entered the season
in which Your Light has been given to the world,
your blessings have been poured out on the world,
and yet all we can think about is our own problems,
our own needs, our own desires.
Help us to desire you, Lord.
Help us to yearn for your presence.
Pour your baptismal waters over us again,
cleansing us from our self-pity and arrogance.
Nourish and heal us so that we may joyfully serve you.
Wash away our jealousy, greed,
and all negative thoughts and behaviors
that stand in the way of our truly being
the people you have called us to be.
Again let us receive the blessings offered in creation,
in the birth and baptism of Jesus,
and in the ministry of the saints in light.
Assurance of Pardon
The love of God is always offered to us,
freely, joyfully, for all eternity.
Rejoice, dear friends,
this is the Good News.
The Lord`s Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
Celebrating the coming of the One who brings the reign of God to all people, let us pray for the world God loves, the Church God calls, and all people according to their needs, saying, Lord, in your mercy, and responding, Hear our prayer.
God of light and darkness,
through water and Word
you shine your light into the darkness of our lives.
We give thanks for this incredible gift.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of love and hate,
your love comes in spite of our animosity;
you bring reconciliation to those who are divided.
We pray for better relations between nations and within nations.
Strengthen us to be peacemakers.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of hope and fear,
you walk with us through the challenges which surround us.
Wash away our anxiety by your promised presence,
and set us free from despair.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of church and world,
in baptism you unify yourself with our world,
and bring your reign into being.
Keep us from seeing your love as a hiding place.
Motivate us to infuse the world with your justice.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of health and illness,
there is nothing that separates us from your love.
Inspire us to bring your health to the sick,
your encouragement to the discouraged,
your promise to the dying,
especially those we name before you now.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of life and death,
all that exists is from you, and for you.
Enable us to trust your baptismal promise,
and serve this hurting world.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God who shines in the darkness,
receive these prayers and the prayers of our hearts,
in the name of the one who is your light,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Collect for the Baptism of Christ
Eternal Father,
at the baptism of Jesus
you revealed him to be your Son,
and anointed him with the Holy Spirit,
Keep all who are born of water and the Spirit
faithful to their calling as your people;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
The Grace
SUNDAY JANUARY 18TH SECOND SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY
Call to Worship
Come and see!
The light of God has come into our world
to proclaim God’s justice and love;
It has overcome the darkness and brought new life.
Come and follow!
Christ our companion has redeemed our world
He draws us into a loving family
From every tribe and family and culture.
Go and tell!
The Spirit has equipped us for service
To love our neighbours as we do ourselves
To bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth.
Come and see, come and follow, go and tell!
In God’s Love the nations of the earth will put their hope.
Prayers of Approach and Confession
Faithful and ever loving God, we lift up our hearts.
Lord our God, we give you our thanks, for you alone are worthy of our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, O God,
for even when heaven and earth pass away,
your words will never pass away.
Like a potter you created the earth,
and we are all the work of your hands.
At your presence even the mountains quake,
and yet to your people who wait for you,
you are the light, revealing our salvation.
In your child, Jesus, you have come among us,
teaching us to live in readiness for your reign.
Though he was killed, you raised him to life,
restoring to us the light of your presence,
and enriching us in every way
so that we are not lacking in your gifts
as we await the day
when he comes on the clouds in glory
and gathers his faithful ones from the ends of the earth;
all who do right and remember you in their ways.
Faithful God,
you call us to be saints,
but we are more comfortable with the role of sinner;
you call us to be your servants,
but we worry that we lack the skills to do your work;
you put a new song of praise in our mouths,
but we stumble on unfamiliar words;
you show us the work to be tackled,
but we turn away defiant,
insisting we have more important things to do.
Put your song on our lips and in our hearts,
and remind us of the joy that awaits us
when we put our trust in you.
Guide us into the light
of your unwavering, never-ending,
and grace-filled love.
Assurance of Pardon
God is faithful and ever-present.
The God who knew us before our birth
loves us still and strengthens us,
that we will one day be blameless.
Through the gift of Jesus Christ,
God offers forgiveness, grace, and mercy
and invites us to enter into the light!
And for that we say, Thanks be to God!
The Lord`s Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
You command us, Heavenly Father, through your prophet Isaiah to listen and pay attention, for we are far away from you. The sharp tongues of the prophets do not let us have a glib faith. Your Son, our Savior, has been sent as our light in a dark world.
Let us walk: In the light of the Lord.
Father God, you listen to us like you listened to the Psalmists when we sing our songs, cry our laments, and put our trust in your gracious mercy. Help us delight in your will. Put your law and your help in our hearts, that we may rejoice in your steadfast love.
Let us walk: In the light of the Lord.
We thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, that you have called us to be saints together.
As we grow in our faith in your Body, the church,
fill us with your spiritual gifts, that we may not be lacking in zeal or courage.
Let us walk: In the light of the Lord.
Lamb of God, John the Baptist proclaimed that you take away the sin of the world.
Take away our sin, our selfishness, that we may be your people in a world that needs you more than it can admit. Help us take no offense in the fact that we need you too.
Let us walk: In the light of the Lord.
Open our ears, Holy Spirit, that we may hear your call through the Scriptures, the preaching of your word, the singing of your inspired hymns, and the praying of our prayers.
When we hear you call, may we walk with you as readily as Andrew and Peter.
Let us walk: In the light of the Lord.
We bring before you those whom we know need healing, hope, and heavenly help.
As we name them in our hearts or aloud, touch them, and us with your presence.
Let us walk: In the light of the Lord.
Make all our petitions selfless, like those you taught us to pray.
Amen
The Dismissal
We have come and we have seen.
The light of God has come into our world
to proclaim God’s justice and love;
It has overcome the darkness and brought new life.
We have come and we desire to follow!
Christ our companion has redeemed our world
He draws us into a loving family
From every tribe and family and culture.
Go and tell!
The Spirit has equipped us for service
To love our neighbours as we do ourselves
To bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth.
Come and see, come and follow, go and tell!
In God’s Love the nations of the earth will put their hope.
The Grace
SUNDAY JANUARY 25TH
THIRD SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY
Call to Worship
Come, follow Jesus!
We gather together to follow in the way of Christ.
Come, walk with Jesus!
We seek to walk together in the truth of Christ.
Come, trust in Jesus!
We celebrate the revelation of Christ in our world.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession
God of community,
thank You for Your spirit hovering in our midst,
knitting us together as a community of faithful disciples.
Thank You for unravelling threads of untruth, distrust and darkness.
Thank You for casting on threads of truth, caring and compassion.
We marvel at the patterns of friendship, community and cohesion You have created.
God of light,
thank You for your spirit persistently shining amongst the shadows.
Thank You for boldly breaking through the darkness.
Thank You for illuminating the path before us.
We marvel at the bright beams of love, hope and possibility You have created.
God of wisdom,
thank You for Your spirit quickening our minds and hearts.
Thank You for calling us to follow in the way of Jesus.
Thank You for never giving up on us.
We marvel at the power of Your word to change the world.
Gracious God, we raise our voices in thanks to You.
Forgiving God,
we come together to admit our wrongs and ask your forgiveness.
We have quarrelled. Nations fight. Families dispute. Congregations argue.
Eternal One, forgive us.
Knit us together in Christ.
We have blamed others when we, too, have been at fault.
We have tried to convince others to side with us against our opponents,
even when we are of one family, one community or one church.
Eternal One, forgive us.
Knit us together in Christ.
We have said untruths, bolstering our views.
We have maligned and offended others who have stood in our way.
Eternal One, forgive us.
Knit us together in Christ.
We have been afraid to say important truths,
worried about consequences, especially what others will think or say about us.
Eternal One, forgive us.
Knit us together in Christ.
We have upheld division over unity.
We have polarised and poisoned relationships.
Eternal One, forgive us.
Knit us together in Christ.
Forgiving God, save us with Your powerful mercy.
Shine Your light into our darkness.
Open our hearts and minds to Your embrace
that we might embrace others in love and friendship.
Eternal One, forgive us.
Knit us together in Christ. Amen.
The Lord`s Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.
God of light,
we pray for people who find themselves in gloom and anguish,
for families living with war and violence,
for children alone and afraid,
for women shipped into slavery.
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.
God of compassion,
we pray for people afflicted by poverty,
homelessness and lack of clean water,
for communities unable to secure safety for their children.
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.
God of abundance,
we pray for people whose homes and communities have been plundered,
who know only scarcity and suffering,
who no longer experience joy.
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.
God of hope,
we pray for people who carry great burdens,
who trudge through life with a yoke across their shoulders,
for carers, for over-worked medical personnel.
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.
God of liberation,
we pray for people who live broken by the rod of their oppressor,
for those abused by partners or parents,
for those slaving away at underpaid jobs,
for those excluded from activities and opportunities.
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.
God of truth,
we pray for people afraid to speak out,
afraid to reveal injustice and oppression,
fearful of consequences and retribution.
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.
God of light,
show us how to shine Your light more brightly into our world,
to relieve the suffering of others and to celebrate Your presence,
even in times of trial.
Thank You for walking with us and all Your children through the challenges of life.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
The Dismissal
People of God, go to proclaim God's truth,
shine Christ's light and celebrate the Spirit amongst us! Followers of Jesus, as you travel through the week ahead,
choose the path of truth, hope and goodness. Go in peace. Go filled with the knowledge that God's light shines upon you and all the world.
The Grace
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1ST
CANDLEMAS
Scripture Sentences
In the beginning God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light, and God saw that the light was very good, and he separated light from darkness.”
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me shall never walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.”
Prayers of Approach and Confession
Lord God, you are the source of everlasting light. Your son was presented in the temple forty days after his birth. He was recognised by Simeon and Anna and welcomed as the promised Messiah.
May we like them, behold the glory of Christ. Grant that we may stand before you with hearts cleansed by your forgiving love.
We worship you, loving, listening God. We offer you our prayers and praises drawn to your light and seeking your way.
Father eternal, giver of light and grace, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour, in what we have thought, in what we have said and done, through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love and marred your image in us. We are sorry and ashamed, and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past;
and lead us out from darkness to walk as children of light.
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon us,
pardon and deliver us from all our sins,
confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and keep us in life eternal.
Like Simeon, may we grow old in hope and wonder. Like Anna, may we be in love with you all our days. May we be open to truth, open to surprises. May we let your spirit into our lives. May we let your justice change our behaviour. May we live in the brightness of your joy. Amen.
The Lord`s Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
Almighty God, we give thanks for the welcome given to the child, Jesus,
by Simeon and Anna, seeing that in his life there would be joy, sorrow and suffering, and for the example they have set us.
As we remember the older and retired people in our churches,
we thank you and pray for their work with children, young people and families in our communities. We pray your Holy Spirit may inspire them to use and share their experiences of life with wisdom, humility and gladness.
We pray for the work and service of all homes and day centres for the elderly
and those in need.
Jesus Light of the world, shine in our darkness.
Lord, we pray that world-wide churches may always be ready to travel along your way
and in your direction.
Bless and guide our ministers and leaders
As we approach the Lenten season of penitence and discipline,
help us to be alive to your Spirit, who searches all our hearts and renews our lives as we offer our faith and obedience.
Jesus Light of the world, shine in our darkness
We pray for nations and leaders as they live through conflicts and struggle with identity.
We think of Ukraine and the Middle East
We remember those suffering in natural disasters and extreme weather,
both at home and abroad, whether it be floods or famines.
We pray for all those people sacrificially working to bring aid and help where it is most needed.
Jesus Light of the world, shine in our darkness.
We pray for the families and communities we represent asking that we may have a spirit of generous love,
understanding and respect for those who are different from us.
Jesus Light of the world, shine in our darkness.
We pray for all finding their life-journey tedious, lonely or uncertain,
those who are ill or vulnerable.
Be their strong comfort in times of need.
Bless and protect their families and their careers.
Jesus Light of the world, shine in our darkness
Lord, we remember for those who have died and pray for those who miss and grieve for them.
Jesus Christ is the light of the world, a light which no darkness can quench. May our candles today be a symbol of your love and warmth and hope.
We pray for the families and friends of all who have died recently.
You turn our darkness into light, in your light shall we see light.
Grant us and all who have known you in their hearts a share in your eternal kingdom.
Jesus Light of the world, shine in our darkness
In the silence of these moments, we make our particular concerns known to God.
Open our eyes, Father
To the light of your glory
In the world you have made
In the people around us
And in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus Light of the world, shine in our darkness
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Nunc Dimittis
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation; Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
The Dismissal
The Lord Jesus give light to your eyes, Give light to your mind’s, Give light to your hearts, Give light to your whole lives,
That you may witness to Christ today and forever.
Turn from the crib to the cross. May you shine with the light of Christ`s love. May you go to carry the light of Christ. May you shine with the light of Christ`s love.
The Grace
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8TH
SECOND SUNDAY BEFORE LENT
Call to Worship
Look at the birds of the air;
they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns
and yet God provides for the basic sustenance of life.
May our hearts be open to trust you.
Look at the birds of the air;
they neither study nor plan nor plot their course
and yet God writes the instinct for migration into their hearts.
May our eyes be open to see you.
Look at the birds of the air;
they neither talk nor vote nor debate their responsibility
yet God weaves them into communities which nurture and defend.
May our hands be open to serve you.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession
We give thanks to you, debonaire God.
You clothe the wild flowers,
dressing them so superbly
that they outdo Solomon in all his glory.
You are the true Friend
of all creatures great and small
and feed even the birds of the air.
We give thanks to you, Christ Jesus
the Source of abundance,
full of grace and truth.
We give thanks to you, extravagant God.
You turn the other cheek,
go the second mile,
turn water into the best wine,
bring healing with every touch,
and welcome a woman’s of love
as she fills the house with unforgettable fragrance.
We give thanks to you, Jesus Christ,
who sweated blood in an Olive Grove,
and kept the faith to the very end.
We give thanks to you, redeeming God
who spared no cost,
forgave even his brutal crucifiers,
had time for a dying thief at his side,
and who on the third day
did a thing so prodigious
that even his friends were dismayed with joy.
We give thanks to you, the God who we see in Jesus Christ
and experience through the Spirit,
the Source of abundance
wherever we turn
and no matter what we do.
We are thankful that your mercy is higher than the heavens,
wider than our wanderings,
deeper than all our sin.
Forgive our frivolous attitude toward life,
our callousness toward suffering,
our envy of those who have more than we have,
our obsession with creating a life of constant pleasure,
our indifference to the treasures of heaven,
our neglect of your wise and gracious law.
Help us to change our way of life
so that we may desire what is good, love what you love,
and do what you command,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Lord`s Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
Holy God, sometimes our lives are so full of worries that we forget how you look after us through every aspect of our lives. When our worries begin to spiral out of control, help us turn them into a conversation with you, confident that you will calm our anxiety and give us hope for the future.
Gracious God, we pray for your church, and the churches in our local community asking that there will be a growing desire to get together. We give you thanks for those who come up with fresh ways of making your name known to the wider community.
Creator God, thank you for our world and the places where we live. Help us all to be mindful that we are all created equal in your sight and accept our deep regret that despite this there is still so much inequality to be found. Help us to remember that you want us to be good stewards of your creation, living responsibly in the lands and seas of the earth. May all future growth be sustainable and may we ensure that its abundance is fairly shared for the good of all.
Father God, we thank you for the joy of human love, and for all those among whom we live and work. We pray particularly for loved ones who worry us with their health, or circumstances, or life direction. We pray for those among our friends and families who do not know you, or whose faith has been shaken.
Loving God, we pray for all who bear the burdens of pain, bereavement, worry and depression. We pray for those whose illness stems from anxiety.
We pray that they may have an awareness of your presence and an understanding that you are bearing those burdens with them and always working towards their healing and wholeness.
Merciful God, through your love and mercy you turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life. Comfort those who grieve in their sorrow and those who are worried about how they will cope on their own and reassure them that you will never leave them to carry the burdens of life unaided.
Everlasting God, we ask you to lead us into the coming week, help us to believe that you are close by us, keep us from making mistakes and help us never to disappoint you through our words and actions.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
The Dismissal
Do not worry about anything in life,
what you’ll eat, or what you’ll wear.
Look at the birds of the air, or the flowers in the field.
If God takes such good care of birds and flowers,
how much more will He care for you?
So do not be afraid.
Instead, let your lives be marked by compassion and generosity,
sharing what you have been given with those in need,
storing up your treasure in heaven, instead of here on earth.
The Grace
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15TH
SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE LENT
TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY
Call to Worship
Beyond our earth-bound lives,
there is a glory rising born of heaven
and reaching out to each one of us,
a light that shines through the clouds,
an invitation seeking all of who we are
that transfigures the world,
that transforms darkness into hope,
that brings life from a cross
where old life ends and new life is born.
In glory Jesus meets us here,
raising us from depths of valley to the height of the mountain,
carrying the weight of our humanity
to the heights of heavens glory.
Let us worship from the mountain and hear again
“This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”
Prayers of Adoration and Confession
We worship you, O God, with songs of praise.
We worship you with words of prayer
and with ears that listen for you to speak
your saving truth into our lives.
We worship you in the silent spaces
where we struggle for hope and for courage.
We long for a glimpse of your glory:
the glory that shines in the darkness
and the darkness cannot overcome it;
the glory that touches lives with a beauty so holy
that it heals the wounded soul;
the glory that gives strength to the weary.
We, who stumble and fall so often,
worship you, longing for your light to shine upon us.
Dazzle us with your holy love,
draw us into your purifying presence,
speak to us your transforming truth.
Then, grant us grace to live every moment
changed by such glory—
daring to live with hope and courage and love
reflecting the life of Jesus,
through whom your glory shines in the most unexpected ways.
Lord Jesus Christ, God's glory and love shone through you that day on the mountain and you persisted in revealing that glory and love through your words and deeds; through your life of humble service.
We hear again these wonderful words of God,
"You are my Son, the Beloved, listen to him!”
We confess our failure to listen to you because of the influence on our lives of the gods of this world. When this happens our attitudes conceal
rather than reveal your glory and your love.
If we conceal your love
because our pursuit of other priorities
prevents us from seeing and serving people in need:
If we conceal your glory
because all we reflect is our own self-centredness:
If we conceal your truth
through our lack of credible witness:
If we conceal your justice
through our failure to empower those who are powerless:
If we conceal your mercy
because of our hard and unforgiving attitudes:
If we conceal your compassion
because of our prejudice and intolerance:
forgive us, Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ,
cleanse our lives of all shameful attitudes of mind and heart
so that we reveal your glory
in and through all we do and say and are.
This we pray in your name
and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Assurance of Pardon
It is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness" who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The good news is that we are not only enlightened by Christ, we are cleansed and we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God!
Amen.
The Lord`s Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
Almighty God, before the passion of your Son,
you revealed His glory upon the holy mountain.
Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of His countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross.
Indeed, O Lord, give us the vision to see beyond the turmoil
of our world and to behold Him in all His glory.
O God, at the Holy Mountain we open our eyes and we see Jesus,
the months of ministry transfigured to a beam of light,
the light of the world, your light. May your light always shine upon us.
O God, we open our eyes and we see Moses and Elijah with Jesus,
your word, restoring us, showing us the way, telling a story,
your story, his story, our story.
May your word always speak to us.
O God, we open our eyes and we see mist, the cloud of your presence, which assures us of all we do not know
and that we do not need to fear that.
Teach us to trust.
O God, we open our eyes and we see Peter's constructions,
his best plans, our best plans, our missing the point,
our missing the way.... Forgive us
our foolishness and our sin.
O God, we open our eyes and we see Jesus, not casting us off,
but leading us down, leading us out - to ministry, to people.
Help us to share his love, your love.
O God, hear our prayers not just for ourselves, but our prayers for one
another at this time: our prayer that they who are lost might be found,
that they who are lame might walk and they who are sick may be healed, that they who are enslaved may be set free and they that mourn may be comforted.
We pray, O God, for ....
O God, at your Holy Mountain we open our ears
and we hear your voice saying
'This is my beloved Son, listen to him!'
We give you thanks and we pray
in his name that we might always do your will and harken to his voice -
both on the mountains and in the valleys of life.
Amen
The Dismissal
Come down from the mountain with mountain-like faith.
Walk on God's paths as bright, shining lights.
Live in God's ways with faith, hope, and love.
Go into the world transformed and renewed!
The Grace
SUNDAY PRAYERS FEBRUARY 22ND
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
Call to Worship for Lent
Lent calls us to journey, this and every day,
following Jesus wherever he leads us.
Lent calls us to journey:
to the place where God covenants with us,
to receive the new names we are given.
Lent calls us to worship together,
to tell future generations the good news.
Lent calls us to practice justice,
to bring God's hope to all people.
Lent calls us to faithful living,
to trust the One who gives us life.
Lent calls each of us to take up our cross,
to trust the One who bears it with us.
Lent calls us to journey with God.
Let us worship God, who walks with us,
this and every day.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession
Father God,
as we take this journey that draws us ever closer to you,
we thank You that you walk with us
You sustain us,
You nurture us.
God, as we go through
the wilderness of Lent and of our lives,
we thank You that You send your manna to us,
You give us wisdom to turn from temptation
and your grace to persevere.
God, as we negotiate the pot holes of life,
the valleys and pitfalls,
We thank You that You guide us with your hand
You keep our feet steady,
and our vision on you.
Keep us in your paths of love, mercy and grace.
Lord help us to remember we are not alone
but that we are walking with our fellow travellers.
So many times we have questioned you and turned away from you;
disbelieving your will for us;
stifling ourselves in the darkness of that disbelief
and failing not only ourselves,
but those whom we love.
Forgive us when we fail to walk in your ways,
when we have been incapacitated by our own weaknesses,
bringing a sense of guilt and sometimes despair.
We ask that you do not give up on us;
that you take us by the hand and put us back on course,
a course leading to contentment and fulfilment,
underpinned by your strength and love.
Restore us to yourself
that we might lift up our hearts and minds and voices
to focus on Christ calling us to follow him wherever that may be.
Help us to learn from his example,
to search our hearts, just as he did,
and to commit ourselves more wholly to you.
On this first Sunday of Lent,
may we listen out for your voice in the days ahead,
that we may know you better,
that we may love you better.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Lords` Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
We pray today for all who are walking a hard journey:
for those whose daily paths encounter barbed wire and guns;
for those who did not want to leave home but were forced to;
for those who set out today in search of food and water;
for those whose journey is shattered by economic hardship;
for those whose journey is marred by pain or despair,
and for those who faithfully journey alongside them;
for those who are making a move and beginning again;
for those who are clinging on to something that has ended;
for those who are being bullied, and for those who are bullying;
for those who have just taken their first breath,
and for those who today will take their last.
May this Lenten journey, with its stories
about the hard places of Jesus’ experience,
give strength and courage to all
whose journey is far from easy.
And may it inspire us to risk Christ’s Way of love
as we share the journey with other travellers.
We make this prayer in His name. Amen.
The Dismissal
Lent calls us to journey, this and every day,
following Jesus wherever he leads us.
Lent calls us to journey:
to the place where God covenants with us,
to receive the new names we are given.
Lent calls us to worship together,
to tell future generations the good news.
Lent calls us to practice justice,
to bring God's hope to all people.
Lent calls us to faithful living,
to trust the One who gives us life.
Lent calls each of us to take up our cross,
to trust the One who bears it with us.
Lent calls us to journey with God.
Let us worship God, who walks with us,
this and every day.
The Grace
SUNDAY PRAYERS MARCH 1ST
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
Call To Worship
I lift up my eyes to the hills- from where will our help come? Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
God will not let your foot be moved; the God who keeps you will not slumber. The God who keeps us neither slumbers nor sleeps.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike us by day nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; God will keep your life. The Lord will keep our going out and our coming in from this time on and forevermore.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession
O Most High,
we praise and adore You for Your loving kindness,
which called Abraham and Sarah of old,
which called the disciples to follow Jesus,
and which calls us now in the trials and tribulations of our own age.
We thank You, and ask for Your strength to follow.
O Lord Jesus,
we respond to Your call and, in that response,
find blessing upon blessing,
new life and love, forgiveness and fellowship.
In You our restless hearts find their rest,
and our ancient yearnings are stilled.
Yet we know that You bless us
that we might bless others;
You shower Your grace upon us
that we might be a source of loving kindness in a lonely world.
O Holy Spirit,
so often we prefer the shadows to the light,
the ways of the world to Your ways.
We try and bargain with You,
and compromise with the principalities and powers of our age,
in the hope we may find an easier way,
trusting in our own ingenuity
rather than in Christ’s faithfulness.
Forgive us, good Lord, and give us time to change,
that we may follow You in the light.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news,
the promise that Abraham and Sarah would inherit the world
did not come to them, or to their descendants, through the Law
but through the righteousness of faith.
In faith, then, believe you are forgiven and called;
you are blessed to be a blessing!
Thanks be to God who has forgiven, called and blessed us! Amen.
The Lord`s Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
Heavenly Father, Your spirit moves in us,
causing us to cry out Abba Father to You.
Hear the prayers that come from our hearts,
our fears and vulnerabilities, and our hopes,
knowing that our help comes from You.
We pray for the church in all its forms.
May we hear the lessons of vulnerability, and the call to rebirth,
to be constantly renewed
and be prepared to remain helpless and nourished by You,
so that we can truly embody what the world needs us to be,
and be a sign of Your love.
We lift our eyes to You,
Our helper and our strength.
We pray for our leaders, and leaders across the world,
that they will be humble and selfless,
and willing to work together for the common good.
Fill them with Your spirit Lord,
so that we might be communities that welcome the stranger and protect the vulnerable.
We lift our eyes to You,
Our helper and our strength.
We pray for our beautiful earth,
for protection of fragile ecosystems, and just and wise use of resources,
so that generations to come might be safe and blessed.
We pray to learn to be advocates and care for Your creation.
We lift our eyes to You,
Our helper and our strength.
We pray for peace in all those parts of the world where there is conflict.
We ask You to hear the cries of all those who are suffering in war,
and let peace and justice flow.
We pray that we may be filled with compassion and not despair,
and wisdom and generosity to know how to help those in need.
We lift our eyes to You,
Our helper and our strength.
We pause to reflect on where we need God's help in our own lives,
or a person or situation on our own hearts at this time, thinking especially of those who are ill, anxious, bereaved or any kind of need.
We Lift our eyes to You,
Our helper and our strength.
Amen.
The Dismissal
May you recognise the call of One who called Abraham and Sarah!
May you respond to the call of the One who died and rose to new life!
May you respond to the call of the One who blesses you to be a blessing!
The Grace
SUNDAY PRAYERS MARCH 8TH
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
Call to Worship
We have come to worship God, who makes streams flow from rock, who turns the parched earth into springs of water, who sends the rain from heaven and makes the wilderness blossom and flourish.
As the deer thirsts for flowing streams, so we thirst for You, O God. Come, let’s worship our life-giving God, who pours out living water on all who thirst.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession
God of creation, we are here together to worship Your holy name. Lord of salvation, we are here together to praise what You have done for us.
King of blessings, we are here together to give You the best that we can bring.
Your sovereign power holds us in being.
Your immeasurable love makes the impossible possible for us.
Your infinite grace creates a way for us to enjoy friendship with You.
Your unfailing faithfulness safeguards the completion of our salvation.
You are always there for us, never growing old, never growing bored, never growing tired. Your mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. For all these, we give thanks to You.
Immortal, invisible, God only wise: so far beyond us, so near to us with Your love in Jesus Your son, As we thank You for Your indescribable love for us, we confess that down in life’s valley, we have ignored You or broken Your heart. Living God, forgive us for not taking rest from work and not taking time out for worship. Forgive us for turning aside to other gods: gods of human making: power and pounds; sex and success; money and machines. Forgive us for venerating such false idols. Forgive us for thinking and speaking against our neighbours,
and for any envy of their good fortune;
and for not thinking and doing enough for those near to us. Maybe we do not kill or steal but forgive us for murderous feelings and for thinking we might take something that is not ours.
Lord God, forgive us for breaking the new commandment,
given by Your son: to love others, even our enemies.
Merciful God, set Christ’s cross between our souls and our sins. As we are contrite, assure us by the Holy Spirit
that we are pardoned, healed, restored, forgiven.
By Christ’s grace raise us to new heights of fresh obedience and good and glorious living. As we come into Your presence together, pour Your love into our hearts once again through Your Holy Spirit.
Renew our hope of sharing Your glory and quench our thirst with Your living water welling up to eternal life. May we glorify Your name in our whole life and worship in spirit and truth. May our living be a source of blessing in the world. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Lord`s Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
Lord, as we journey towards Easter,
refresh, renew, restore us in your service.
We pray for churches where life has become dull and dry.
We remember churches struggling for survival.
We pray for Christians drained of energy and resources.
We remember especially those who thirst for your presence and your saving power.
Good and gracious Lord, give us the water of life.
We pray for all who thirst after justice,
all who are working hard to improve our world.
We remember all who are suffering from weariness and exhaustion.
We pray for all who live in place affected by drought.
Good and gracious Lord, give us the water of life.
We pray for all who are going through a period of testing and dryness,
in their faith or their relationships.
We pray for those whose ardour has cooled,
for all who have lost their first zeal and zest for life.
We pray for all who are suffering from a lack of love in their homes.
Good and gracious Lord, give us the water of life.
We remember all who feel wrung out or dried up,
all who are wearied with the journey of life,
all who feel they are near to perishing.
We pray for all who cannot cope by themselves,
for all who are in care, and for all carers.
We remember all who are in hospices.
Good and gracious Lord, give us the water of life.
We give thanks for the fellowship of those whose journey is over,
those who hunger and thirst no more,
all who have been refreshed and restored in your kingdom.
We pray that we may share with them in the fullness of life that is eternal.
Good and gracious Lord, give us the water of life.
All these our prayers we offer in Jesus` name. Amen.
The Dismissal
Go now from this service of worship
to the service of God’s people near and far,
refreshed by the living water that Jesus offers to you.
Listen for the parched voices of the least of these;
search out the dry places and the arid souls,
and become for them a spring of living water.
The Grace
SUNDAY PRAYERS MARCH 15TH
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
MOTHERING SUNDAY
Call to Worship
We gather together to worship
our loving, nurturing God,
who, like a mother,
knows us intimately,
loves us unconditionally,
teaches us the way we should go,
and comforts us in times of need.
Praise be to God,
the Source and Sustainer of life!
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession
We join our hands in this family circle, Lord,
and raise our voices in thanks to You.
Because of Your great love, we know the love
of parents, child, brothers, sister.
You have done great wonders in the world,
yet You hear the prayers of each of us,
small as we are.
Your understanding is beyond our imagination,
but You care enough to listen to us,
and You understand our hurts and fears.
Your hand created the heavens, the stars, the moon,
and Your power keeps them in their places,
yet You still have time to touch our lives.
When our enemies threaten us,
when our selfish natures lead us into sin,
You are there to shield and guide us back to You.
When we are hungry, tired, or lonely,
you provide us with food, rest and comfort.
You have even provided a wonderful future for us,
a future free from fear or pain or worry
where we will live with You forever,
together in the oneness of Your love.
We give thanks to You, the God of heaven,
our Abba whose love endures forever.
Lord, many of us read Your Holy Word
And are inspired, encouraged, and grateful.
But some of us are tempted to doubt
That Your grace could ever produce
these kinds of virtues mentioned there in our lives.
Some of us are tempted by resentment and unforgiveness
because of those who have let us down.
Some of us are tempted to condemn ourselves for past failings,
and all of us remember times when we have fallen short.
Forgive us for doubt, resentment,
unforgiving hearts, self-condemning attitudes.
Remind us of your forgiveness, always available in Jesus Christ.
In spite of our failures and sin,
We trust in Your power to transform our lives.
Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus,
so that our lives may bring Joy to Your world
and praise to Your Name.
Amen.
The Lords` Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
Holy One,
we gather in your presence to give you thanks
and to celebrate the gift of your motherly love,
both gentle and fierce,
both strong and humble,
both kind and true.
Your love has given birth to the whole of creation,
supports and nurtures us,
cares enough to correct us,
and challenges us in ways that strengthen and transform us.
We offer you praise and thanksgiving
for your unfailing presence in our lives
and all of the blessings you so generously offer us.
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Loving God, we thank you for the gift of motherhood and for the many
examples of faithful mothers in scripture, like Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth,
Mary, and Lois. We give thanks for mothers the world over. We celebrate
all those who have nurtured and cared for us, remembering especially,
birth mothers, adoptive mothers, surrogate mothers, aunts, grandmothers,
teachers, neighbours, and all women who have mothered us.
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of generations,
thank you for the gift of faith.
kindled and rekindled in us through the years.
And thank you for those what have taught us the Faith
in sincerity and love.
Today, we give special thanks and praise for our church mothers,
the women who, like Timothy’s mother and grandmother,
steadily and without much recognition
teach a new generation of children about the love of Jesus.
And we celebrate the matriarchs
who build up with compassion and strong shoulders
young women and girls,
revealing a deep spiritual life and love
woven into the fabric of our church family.
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of compassion and joy,
we know motherhood is a wide spectrum
and our life together is big enough to stand in solidarity with all mothers.
For the seen and unseen grief and struggles of women and mothers,
we ache with you.
For the seen and unseen joys of motherhood,
we rejoice and celebrate with you.
May God bless all women on this special day;
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
One God, the Mother of us all.
Amen.
The Dismissal
Go into your week,
knowing that you are embraced by the love of God;
a love that is sweeter and more tender
than any you have ever known.
The Grace
SUNDAY PRAYERS MARCH 22ND
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Opening Prayer
Holy God, Creator of Life,
you call us out of our dark places, offering us the grace of new life.
When we see nothing but hopelessness, you surprise us with the breath of your spirit.
Call us out of our complacency and routines,
set us free from our self-imposed bonds,
and fill us with your spirit of life, compassion, and peace,
In the name of Jesus, your anointed one, we pray. Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession
Almighty God, who called his Son into ministry by the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
and testified that he was the coming King through the good news culminating on the cross, hear our prayers of thanksgiving.
We thank you that you are the God of angel armies,
the God who is triumphant over sin,
healing those who were in its clutches.
We thank you that you are the God of life,
the God who is triumphant over death,
hearing the prayer of your Son to pull Lazarus from its grip
and give him new life.
We thank you that you who were greeted with praise
at your entry into Jerusalem would humble yourself
in death and empty yourself for us.
Compassionate God,
the wind of your Spirit is the very sign of life
for all who long for you.
One breath from you and we are rescued
from the arid valley of dry bones,
given muscles and sinews and joy with which to praise you,
and filled with the holy hope you grant to all your faithful children.
Let our whole lives be filled with the life-breath of the Spirit,
that what has lain dormant may burst into bloom,
and what looks to us to be death
may be revealed as but sleep
before the emergence of new life.
You call us to be your voices in this world
and we stay silent.
You call us to be your hands in this world
and we keep them hidden.
You call us to be your feet in this world
and we go our own way.
When we meet those who are doubting
and say nothing, forgive us.
When we meet those who need your touch
and do nothing, forgive us.
When we are called to take up your cross
and carry nothing, forgive us.
Breathe life into these bones
bring freedom to these lives
that we might declare
with heart and soul and voice
that you are our Lord and our God.
Amen
The Lord`s Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
O God, who always listens to us,
who breathes new life into us,
call us forward to resurrection.
We are surrounded by a world of dry bones,
a world of death and despair,
a world where we lose hope in our structures, ourselves, and you.
We pray for this world in need of your Word:
for all the people in it,
for those who lay down their lives,
for those who lead.
O God, who always listens to us,
who breathes new life into us,
call us forward to resurrection.
We are surrounded by people with dried up lives,
people unable to see your life past their tears.
We pray for this world in need of your healing presence:
for those who are imprisoned or alone,
those ill or infirm, or grieving, especially . . .
O God, who always listens to us,
who breathes new life into us,
call us forward to resurrection.
We are spellbound by those dry bones,
terrified of the stink of death,
and often too dumbfounded to call forth life in your name.
We pray for your chosen people, your Church.
We pray for the courage not just to follow you to death,
but to follow you to the New Creation.
O God, who always listens to us,
who breathes new life into us,
call us forward to resurrection, this day and always. Amen.
The Dismissal
God of all consolation and compassion,
whose Son comforted the grieving sisters, Martha and Mary;
and whose breath alone brings life
to dry bones and weary souls.
Pour out His Spirit upon you,
that you may face despair and death
with the hope of resurrection
and faith in the One
who called Lazarus forth from the grave.
The Grace
SUNDAY PRAYERS MARCH 29TH
PALM SUNDAY
A Call to Worship based on Psalm 118
Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter, and give thanks to the Lord. We will give You thanks, for You have answered us; You have become our salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession
We give You thanks for the crowds who greeted Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem singing glad songs of victory.
We give You thanks because for our salvation, Christ was obedient even to death on the cross. The tree of shame was made the tree of glory; and where life was lost, there life has been restored.
We give You thanks for Your steadfast love and abundant goodness to all who wait upon the Lord.
We confess to You our selfishness and lack of love: fill us with Your Spirit. Lord, have mercy.
We confess to You our fear and failure in sharing our faith: fill us with Your Spirit. Christ, have mercy.
We confess to You our stubbornness and lack of trust: fill us with Your Spirit. Lord, have mercy. Amen.
The Lord`s Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
Let us bring to the Father our prayers of intercession through Christ who gave Himself for the life of the world.
For forgiveness for the many times we have denied Jesus, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For grace to seek out those habits of sin which mean spiritual death, and by prayer and self-discipline to overcome them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For Christian people, that through the suffering of disunity there may grow a rich union in Christ, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who make laws, interpret them, and administer them, that our common life may be ordered in justice and mercy, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who still make Jerusalem a battleground, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who have the courage and honesty to work openly for justice and peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those in the darkness and agony of isolation, that they may find support and encouragement, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who, weighed down with hardship, failure, or sorrow, feel that God is far from them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who are tempted to give up the way of the cross, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. That we, with those who have died in faith, may find mercy in the day of Christ, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us. Amen.
The Dismissal
May the Father, who so loved the world that He gave His only Son, bring you by faith to His eternal life. May Christ, who accepted the cup of sacrifice in obedience to the Father’s will, keep you steadfast as you walk with Him the way of his cross. May the Spirit, who strengthens us to suffer with Christ that we may share His glory, set your minds on life and peace.
The Grace
SUNDAY PRAYERS APRIL 5TH
EASTER DAY
Call to Worship
This is the day the Lord has made!
We will rejoice in it.
This is the day God has made; and what a day!
When God wipes away our tears so we can see the empty tomb.
What a day! Easter day!
When God opens our hearts' tombs as Jesus calls us by name.
Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Holy God our Salvation:
you roll away the power of sin, bringing forth the One
who makes everything alive.
Out of the garden of violence and hate
which evil has planted,
you bring forth a spring harvest
of love and forgiveness.
Jesus Christ, Creation's Gardener:
you went into the grave
to drive out the power of the world;
you shut the doors of pain and death
and open the gates of glory
to those who trust in you
and follow as your faithful servants.
Holy Spirit, Anointer of new life:
you speak and open our eyes to faith;
you touch our lips with glad songs of victory;
you roll away our fears so we can tell everyone
we have seen the Risen Lord.
On this first day of the week, Emptier of tombs, we confess that we have not lived faithfully. It is not that we have done great evil; we simply have failed to do good. It is not so much that we have caused hurt, but we have not brought healing.
It is not that we have trouble believing in the event of Easter,
we have difficulty speaking about this day to our friends and neighbours.
Call us by name, Redeemer of all creation, so we might hear your words of mercy. You have not given us over to despair but handed us hope. You have not ignored our emptiness but filled us with the Bread of Heaven. You do not hand us over to death, but raise us to new life, through Jesus Christ.
Assurance of Pardon
What a day! Easter Day! God's dawn of new hope, new mercy, new life.
On this first day and every day, we can walk as God's people, forgiven and made whole. Thanks be to God.
God in Community, Holy in One,
on this great day of Easter,
we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Prayers of Intercession
O God, with faces touched by the light of a new day,
and hearts warmed by our prayers and praises,
we come before you to pray
for the needs of our world.
Into the light of Easter morning
we raise those who are struggling with illness,
with despair over their lives, or with
the breakdown of relationships.
May the light of Christ shine upon them.
May the light of Christ shine upon them.
Into the light of Easter morning,
we bring those places in our world
where war, violence, poverty and need
are the experiences of everyday life.
(These places may be named)
May the light of Christ shine upon them.
Into the light of Easter morning,
we bring the headline news of this weekend
(this may be named):
we hold in our hearts the pain of those suffering violence, bereavement or conflict.
May the light of Christ shine upon them.
And into the light of Easter morning
we bring ourselves, the private struggles,
the heart’s yearnings, the hidden dreams,
the unfulfilled potential.
May the light of Christ shine upon us.
Amen.
The Dismissal
This is the day God gives us new life.
Share it with everyone you meet.
This is the day of Jesus' resurrection.
Tell this story over and over.
This is the day you are anointed by the Holy Spirit.
Go to share peace and grace with the world.
The Grace
SUNDAY PRAYERS APRIL 12TH
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession
Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He gave us new life by raising Jesus from death.
Those who look to God are radiant with joy;
they will never be put out of countenance.
Our loving God,
your purpose is to give life.
You have created life in the midst of this vast universe,
and you have renewed that life for ever
in the person of your own Son,
risen from death.
So we come with joy before you,
to worship and to adore you,
Creator, redeemer and Sustainer,
one God blessed forever.
We give thanks today for the Christian year,
for the busyness of festivals
and the quiet that follows,
for the rhythms of life and death,
and for all whose lives have shown
what it means to live in harmony with your good purpose.
We give thanks for the great hymns of Holy Week
and Easter that we have sung and enjoyed.
May their message sustain us through ordinary days,
and encourage us to live with thanksgiving in our hearts,
through Jesus Christ our risen Saviour.
You are greater than we can imagine,
the one who is,
who was,
who is to come.
We cannot contain you in our literature,
in our films,
in our music,
in our art,
nor even in our worship.
But in Jesus Christ we know you as our friend,
and this is our wisdom and our delight,
now and for all ages to come.
We give thanks for the wisdom of Scripture,
for its wonderful variety,
for its focus on your covenant purpose for your people,
for its fulfillment in Christ.
May the Bible be read,
loved, understood and followed in our world today.
We come as we are,
wearing this frail humanity
which Jesus took to wear himself.
We come with our faith and our doubts,
with our achievements and our failures,
with our past and with our potential.
When we have hidden behind locked doors, scared to speak out for what we believe, protecting ourselves from hostility and conflict: Liberating God, forgive us and set us free.
When we have shut others out of our lives, excluding those who are different or strange, preferring the comfort of being with people like us: Liberating God, forgive us and set us free.
When we have closed our minds to new possibilities,
refusing to take the risks of exploration,
saying `No` to the adventure of mission,
Liberating God, forgive us and set us free.
When we have hoarded what we have, keeping our resources under lock and key,
refusing to share the abundance of God`s generosity:
Liberating God, forgive us and set us free.
Almighty and eternal God,
the strength of those who believe
and the hope of those who doubt,
may we, who have not seen, have faith
and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing.
We offer these prayers
in the name and in the spirit of Jesus, Amen.
The Lord`s Prayer
Prayers of Intercession
Today we pray for the world in its need,
for those who seek refuge from war,
and for those who guide the response to such need.
We pray for politicians;
may they give a lead well,
and do their work with honesty and diligence.
We pray for the sick,
and those who care for them.
May they live with hope,
may they find care and healing,
may they know they are remembered and loved.
And may this congregation be a healing community,
welcoming the stranger and caring for the troubled.
We pray for our community;
may the lonely find a friend,
may the prosperous live with generosity,
may all practice kindness.
We remember our neighbours of other religions,
we remember our neighbours of no religion,
we remember our neighbours about whom we know little.
If we have enemies, we pray for them;
if we have absent friends or family,
we ask a blessing on them, in the name of Christ.
We pray for the church.
May she live and grow,
may she conform to the image of Christ,
may she become a shelter and a light for many peoples.
With thanksgiving for all our brothers
and sisters who live and serve you in heaven, with hope for all your people on earth,
we offer these our prayers in the name and in the spirit of Jesus, Amen
The Dismissal
As you go from here, remember:
God is always with you.
No matter what you face,
no matters what trials or hardships come your way,
God is right beside you,
guiding and directing your path.
So do not live in fear, but in joy,
celebrating God’s presence
and singing God’s praise.
The Grace
Minister ~ Rev Alan Kennedy 07733153203 01612703296 alanrk1690@gmail.com