PRAYERS FOR MARCH 10TH

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 our 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 or tired or lonely,

you provide us with food or rest or 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

PRAYERS FOR SUNDAY MARCH 17TH

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Call to Worship

God of boundless mercy and unfailing love,
our creator, saviour and redeemer,
as part of the body of Christ around the world,
as people called to live for You in the families and communities
and networks in which You have placed us,
we gather together to worship You:
to proclaim Your goodness and to offer our thanks and praise.

Meet us here, we pray.
Join our hearts in wholehearted worship.
Breathe Your word into our souls;
engrave Your covenant of grace into our minds and hearts.
Cultivate Your character in us,
inspire and shape us,
unite and encourage us,
that our lives may reflect Your love and justice to the world.
Amen

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

God of all blessings,
source of all life,
giver of all grace:

We thank You for the gift of life:
for the breath that sustains life,
for the food of this earth that nurtures life,
for the love of family and friends without which there would be no life.

We thank You for the mystery of creation:
for the beauty that the eye can see, for the joy that the ear may hear,
for the unknown that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder,
for the expanse of space that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves.

We thank You for setting us in communities:
for families who nurture our becoming,
for friends who love us by choice,
for companions at work, who share our burdens and daily tasks,
for strangers who welcome us into their midst,
for people from other lands who call us to grow in understanding,
for children who lighten our moments with delight,
for the unborn, who offer us hope for the future.

We thank You for this day:
for life and one more day to love,
for opportunity and one more day to work for justice and peace,
for neighbours and one more person to love and by whom be loved,
for Your grace and one more experience of Your presence,
for Your promise:
to be with us, to be our God, and to give salvation.                                                    For these, and all blessings, we give You thanks.

Merciful God,
Have mercy on our souls,
according to Your unwavering love;
according to Your abundant mercy
wipe away our sins and the guilt we have carried for so long.

Instead write on our hearts Your love
Your boundaries for our lives
Your salvation that sets us free from our sins.
To live the abundant life You have for each of us.

Lord we would see Jesus,
We would love Jesus,
We would follow Jesus
We would serve Jesus.

Lord,
Create in us clean hearts,
Renew Your spirit within us.
Do not turn us away from Your presence,
do not take Your holy spirit from us.
Restore to us the joy of Your salvation,
and sustain in us a willing spirit.
Write on our hearts, Your love, O God,                                                                        Amen

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your loving kindness;
in your great compassion, hear our prayers.

We pray for the whole church,
all the people of God,
all who respond to the call of Jesus, ‘follow me'.

Wash us through and through,
and cleanse us from our sin.

We pray for our nation, for all the nations of the earth,
and for all who govern and judge.
Purge us from our sin,
and we shall be pure.

We pray for those who hunger, those who thirst,
those who cry out for justice,
those who live under the threat of terror,
and those without a place to lay their head.
May they hear of joy and gladness,
that those who are broken may rejoice.

We pray for those who are ill, those in pain,
those under stress, and those who are lonely.
Give them the joy of Your saving help,
and sustain them with Your bountiful Spirit.

Create in us clean hearts, O God,
and renew a right spirit within us.

We pray for those who have been bereaved
Give them Your comfort and peace.

We especially pray for… (named individuals in particular need)
We pray for… (particular issues in the news, community or church)

Lord Jesus,
You taught your disciples that unless a grain of wheat
falls into the earth and dies it remains just a single grain,
but if it dies it bears much fruit;
as we prepare our hearts to remember Your death and resurrection,
grant us the strength and wisdom to serve and follow You,
this day and always.                                                                                                Amen

The Dismissal

Go now, with God’s foolishness and weakness
as your only wisdom and strength.
Proclaim Christ crucified,
and seek riches only in the love of God’s Word and in zeal for God’s house.
May God’s just demands be your nourishment & delight.
May Christ be the power and wisdom of God to you.
May the Holy Spirit keep you, thought and word, in God’s good grace.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

The Grace

SUNDAY PRAYERS MARCH 24TH

PALM SUNDAY

Opening Prayer and Call to Worship

Gathering for worship today,

we are like the crowd that lined the streets,

witnessing your entry into Jerusalem.

Some of us gather here, full of enthusiasm.

Some of us gather wearied by what life has thrown at us.

Some of us have come out of curiosity.

Some of us out of habit.

Some of us gather with great expectation.

Some of us with no particular hopes.

It is here, O God, that you meet us and greet us and, if we will allow,

it is here that you surprise us with your love and your grace.

So open our heavy eyes, and tired minds,

steal into our closed hearts and surprise us today with joy.

Prayers of Approach and Confession

Lord Jesus Christ, we welcome you,

our Lord and our Saviour, our Servant and Friend.

We welcome you to this place, where your people have gathered.

We welcome you to our worship, we welcome you to our lives.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Blessed art thou Redeemer King,

for you reign sovereign in our hearts.

Hosanna in the highest. Blessed art though

O saviour of the world,

for you have saved us from ourselves,

giving yourself for us in love.

We greet you that we might learn of you,

we learn of you that we might love you.

Yet our love is lukewarm so quickly;

we forget you so easily;

we disown you so readily.

We are changeable in our devotion to you,

bending with the strongest wind, blown off course,

capitulating to our culture.

Lord have mercy.

We want you to help us, without our helping you;

we want your words of comfort, but not your words of rebuke.

Lord have mercy.

We want you to be nice, even if we are not.

We seek heaven hereafter, but worldliness now.

Christ have mercy, and grant us your peace.

Lord save us from our fickleness;

help us to stay the course, to stay with you,

to stand with you, and for you, and beside you.

Grant us your grace to overcome our sin,

grant us your Holy Spirit to enable us to follow you, Lord Jesus,

to have your compassion, your courage, your obedience;

that we might be strong enough to forgive others,

to love our neighbours, to strive for justice, to endure the cross,

and to conquer all things with love.

Help us o Father, to open ourselves to receive your Spirit,

and to walk with your Son;

that even we might be blessed in the name of the Lord;

that even we might sing, now and forever,

‘Hosanna in the highest!’

Hear this our prayer o God,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.                                                                                  Amen

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

Christ, we pray that you would hear our prayers,

and graft in our minds the same mind that is in you,

that we might be vessels of your humility and grace.

Lord Jesus, you emptied yourself,

trading in the form of God for the form of a slave;

we pray for the Church, and all her people and ministers.

Form us into a Church that empties itself for others, and for you.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, you were born in human likeness,

and found in human form;

we pray for the whole human family, for the nations of the earth,

and for all who live in the midst of disaster, famine, or terror.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, even after humbling yourself in your incarnation,

you humbled yourself even to the point of death;

we pray for our nation, our leaders,

and all the people who live within these borders.

Bless us with your humility.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus your humility and your love for us

was so broad and deep, it cost you your life.

We remember those whom we love who have died,

and as you were highly exalted, may they rest with you in glory.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In your exaltation, O Lord,

you were given the name that is above every name;

we pray in your name for those who are poor,

those who are hungry,

and those who are hurting in any way.

Give them your grace.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We also pray, in your name O Lord,

for those who are sick (especially…);

give them the gift of healing, strength, and life.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You humbled yourself in the manger,

and you humbled yourself on the cross;

and to you O Lord we bend our knee

with those above and those below,

to the glory of God the Father.                                                                                  Amen.

The Dismissal

Go out into the world in as God's people
and journey with praise on your lips.

Go out into the world as followers of Jesus
and join the parade of the broken, the lost, the hopeless,
for that is where Jesus may be found.

Go out into the world as the Spirit's peace
and share the warm breath of reconciliation with all you meet.

The Grace

SUNDAY PRAYERS MARCH 31ST  EASTER SUNDAY

Call to Worship

Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed.
Hallelujah!

Gathering Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
we greet You.

You knew the prison of fear,
the pain of humiliation,
the loneliness of rejection.
But You also found that love was stronger than fear.
Just as You came,
risen and unexpected
to those first friends of Yours
who went to the garden, anxious and fearful,
be with us now,
and touch us with Your peace.
Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

God of power and love,
we give You thanks that You raised Your Son Jesus Christ from the grave,
that You caused His tomb to be empty,
that You gave hope by Your presence.

We thank You that the powers of evil
which seemed to overcome all light and goodness and love on Friday
were overcome on this day,
defeated in Your Son's rising.

We thank You that in Christ's rising,
we have hope for life before and beyond death,
inspiration for our lives as witnesses to Your grace,
comfort for pain,
and faith in place of fear.

We thank You for every sign of resurrection we sense by Your Spirit,
in nature as the seasons, slowly, turn,
in society, as Your kingdom makes its way,
in our lives, as anxieties give way to peace.

Gracious God,
we pray in sorrow for the ways we go wrong in our lives,
the ways we fail in our witness to Your love.
We have journeyed through Lent,
attempting to shape our lives around the compassion and courage of Christ,
yet we have heard in our hearts
the impulses of those who denied Jesus, betrayed Him and mocked Him.

Forgive us for the ways we have abandoned the path of love and justice.

Yet we trust in Your grace, Your forgiveness,
and Your acceptance flowing from the cross;
Your joy shared in resurrection life.

Help us to live lives liberated from guilt,
and inspired to follow Your risen Son.
Amen.

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

Lord Jesus Christ,
in this troubled and divided world where fear runs so deep,
hopes are so often dashed and dreams so often broken,
we remember today the faith in the future You brought to so many,
both through Your coming and through Your resurrection from the dead.

Lord, in Your mercy                                                                                                  Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, a world is waiting, hurting, longing, searching for hope,
crying out for meaning, hungry for some reason to believe in the future.
Come again in Your living power, and bring new life to all.
We remember especially those places where there are real fears for people's safety, and for those places where people may have forgotten a time before fear,
such as ….

Help them and us come nearer a place and time without pain and mourning,
where there will be no more tears.

Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

On this Easter Day,
we think of our families, perhaps far from here,
who are celebrating as we do but many miles apart.
Comfort all who miss family and friends at this time,
and help us feel united in faith and love.

Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ,
we now name before You those people and situations
we are particularly conscious of:
friends and family members whose life seems to be running out,
all who are struggling with mental health,
anyone who seems imprisoned by the past,
who is fearful of rejection, or missing out, or what the future may hold;
all who are anxious over work undone, or not having enough to do:
come to them with the joy of your presence…

Silence

Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Eternal God,
before Your face the generations rise and pass away.
We praise Your name for all Your servants departed this life in Your faith and love,
and all whose wisdom and courage have led to the flourishing of our community.
Encourage us by the example of Your saints
that we may run with resolution the race which lies ahead of us,
our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith;
till we come at last, with all whom we have loved,
to the joy and peace of Your eternal presence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.                                                                                  Amen.

The Dismissal

Dance, celebrate, sing, and shout for joy!

Christ is Risen and He goes before you,

into this world of fear and pain.

He has called you to bring the Good News

of healing and hope, of redemption.

Go in peace, and know the presence of the Risen Lord with you,

now and forever. 

The Grace

SUNDAY PRAYERS APRIL 7TH 

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

Call to Worship

Let us gather with hearts united,
drawn together by the bonds of faith and the spirit of unity.

As we enter this sacred space,
let us embrace the spirit of generosity and communal love,
just as the early Christians did in Jerusalem.

In this shared sacred moment,
let us open our hearts to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit,
who moves among us, binding us together in love.

Let our worship be a symphony of selfless love,
echoing the chorus of the early believers,
testifying to the resurrection power of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May our worship today be a testimony
to the boundless hope,
joy, grace and faith that unites us,
over distance and time –

One body, one family, gathered in love.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

Creator God,
as we come before You in prayer,
our hearts overflow with gratitude and thanksgiving
for the precious gift of unity and fellowship.

We thank You, Lord, for the bond that unites us as a community of believers.
Like the precious oil that flowed down Aaron's beard,
we acknowledge the anointing of Your Spirit,
covering us with grace, love, and the assurance of Your presence.

We are grateful for the refreshing dew, as on Mount Hermon,
symbolising the life-giving essence of our shared faith.
Your grace descends upon us,
bringing renewal, strength, and a sense of connectedness
that transcends our individual lives.

Thank You, Father, for the harmonious symphony
created when we, Your children, live for each other,
no matter our differences.
In our diversity, You weave a tapestry of love,
understanding, and compassion,
echoing the beauty of Your kingdom on earth.

As we reflect on the goodness of unity,
we offer our thanksgiving
for the moments of laughter, hope, happiness, togetherness,
of comfort, strength and the ability to share the weight of our burdens,
which is found in genuine fellowship.

Your presence among us, Lord, brings harmony to our gatherings
and peace and joy to our hearts.

May our gratitude be expressed not only in words
but also in our actions toward one another.
Empower us to love sincerely, to forgive readily,
and to bear each other's burdens willingly,
embodying the harmony that the Word we heard today celebrates.

Thank You, Lord, for the precious gift of unity –
a gift that reflects the essence of Your nature.
We are grateful for the fellowship we share
as brothers and sisters in Christ,
bound together by the love that surpasses all understanding.

Gracious and merciful God,
We come before You with humble hearts,
acknowledging the doubts that linger within us
and the moments when our faith wavers.

In the stillness of this sacred space,
we confess our shortcomings and seek Your forgiveness.

Like the disciples in the locked room,
we sometimes find ourselves paralysed by fear –
fear of the unknown, fear of inadequacy,
and fear of the challenges that lie ahead.

In those moments, we have doubted Your presence
and questioned Your plans for us.

Lord, forgive us for the times we have struggled
to fully trust in Your resurrection power.

Forgive us for the moments when we've allowed doubt
to overshadow the profound truth of Your victory over death.

In the spirit of Thomas,
we confess that there are times
when we demand tangible evidence,
seeking assurance in what we can see and touch
rather than trusting in the unseen reality of Your love and grace.

We repent of our limited vision
and ask for the faith to believe without always needing to see.
Grant us the strength to embrace the blessedness
of those who trust in Your word
without demanding visible proof.

Lord Jesus, just as You showed Your wounds to Thomas,
reveal to us the areas in our lives
where healing and transformation are needed.
Make us aware of the woundedness around us,
and guide us in acts of compassion, mercy, and reconciliation.

May the same Spirit that breathed peace into the locked room
breathe forgiveness and renewal into our hearts today.
Empower us to go forth with courage,
sharing the good news of Your resurrection
and embodying the love that casts out fear.

We offer this prayer in the name of the Risen Christ,
who continues to transform doubt into faith
and darkness into everlasting light.
Amen.

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession (Based on 1 John 1:1-22)

Gracious God,
as we lift our hearts in prayer,
we intercede on behalf of Your beloved children,
recognising the challenges and joys that shape our shared journey of faith.

We pray for those who, like the disciples, may be wrestling with doubt or fear.
May the light of Your truth dispel the shadows, bringing reassurance and peace.
Strengthen their faith and grant them the courage to walk boldly in Your light.

Lord, we intercede for those burdened by the weight of unconfessed sins.
May the spirit of confession and repentance bring healing and restoration.
Shower them with the assurance of Your forgiveness,
cleansing them from all unrighteousness.

We lift up those who long for genuine fellowship                                                          within the community of believers.
May Your Spirit foster unity, understanding, and love,
creating a bond that reflects the beauty of the fellowship                                            the early Church aspired to.
May our shared life be a testimony to the transformative power of Your grace.

We intercede for those who feel isolated or lonely,
yearning for connection.
Wrap them in the warmth of Your love
and guide us to be instruments of companionship and support.
May we actively seek out those in need and extend the hand of friendship.

Lord, we bring before You
the broken relationships within our communities.
Heal wounds, reconcile hearts, and inspire forgiveness.
May the love that binds us together overcome any discord,
and may our unity reflect the unity found in Your Triune nature.

We pray for those facing adversity, illness, or distress.
Embrace them with Your comforting presence
and grant them strength to endure.
Use us, Your church, as channels of Your love,
bringing practical help and compassion to those in need.

In our intercession, we remember those
who have not yet encountered the fullness of Your light.
Illuminate their hearts and minds,
drawing them into the fellowship of believers.
May our lives be living testimonies,
inviting others into the transformative relationship found in Christ.

And now Lord, we bring before You the names and situations
that lie heaviest on our hearts.                                                                               

Lord, as we intercede for these needs,
we place our trust in Your boundless love and mercy.
In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen.

The Dismissal

May the Spirit of unity hover over your hearts like a gentle dove,
knitting you together in the love of Christ.

May your bonds of fellowship be strong,
your understanding deep,
and your shared purpose unwavering.

The Grace

SUNDAY PRAYERS APRIL 14TH

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

Call to Worship

Peace be with you.
Come and see the love God has given to us.
Come and see what it means to be children of God.
Come with this hope, that Christ’s presence is real.
With joy, we come to see the Lord.

Prayers of Approach and Confession

We thank you, God, for drawing us to this place and time
and for interrupting us with your gift of life in Christ.                                                  Whether we have heard the news many times over,
or are this day listening with brand new ears,
surprise us with your justice and righteousness,
that our lives might turn in the right direction;
startle us with your goodness and mercy,
that we might receive your empowering forgiveness;
stagger us with your hope and peace,
that our eyes will remain wide open as we leave this place,
wondering what you will be doing this week in our world and in us.

Miraculous God,
come to us now,
even as your Son came
to those first disciples.
Speak your peace to our hearts.
Touch us with your Holy Spirit.
Reveal your word,
that we may hear your message this day,
and live as your disciples
in the days and years to come.

God, You have told us to trust in you with all of our hearts.
You have told us not to lean on our own understanding.
And so we try to trust,
but we get very nervous when we don’t understand.
We don’t understand what you mean by
“This bread is my body.” “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.”
We don’t understand who will betray you
or why, or what that will mean for us.
We don’t understand how death is victory.
We don’t understand post-resurrection life–yours or ours.
We don’t understand why you ask us to stay here,
And we’re afraid we will somehow miss the power                                                      when it comes down from on high.

Assurance of Pardon

God is gentle with our doubts.

The Spirit offers us peace in the midst of our lack of understanding.

The One who created us leads us step by step into deeper trust.

Know your sins are forgiven in Jesus` name.                                                              Thanks be to God.                                                                                                  Amen.

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

For your world and your children,

we bring our prayers to you,

God of love. 

For those who are misunderstood,

for those who are abused,

may there be loving care.

For those who have not known love,

for those who struggle to care,

may there always be another chance.

For those who live in fear,

for those who bring fear to others,

may there be justice and peace.

For those living with wounds,

for those confounded by death and loss,

may there be hope for new life.

For those who want to understand more,

for those who are content,

may minds and hearts remain open.

For your world and your children,

we open our hearts.

Hear our cries, and lead us,

through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord,

Amen.

The Dismissal

You are witnesses
to the love God has poured out into your hearts.
You are witnesses of God’s love,
called to share it with each person you meet.
You are witnesses to everyone you encounter.

Step out into the world in humble confidence:

there is nothing about to happen that God has not foreseen,

and no situation where Christ will not be there ahead of you,

preparing a place and an opportunity for you.

The Grace 

SUNDAY PRAYERS APRIL 21ST

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Call to Worship

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care. 

Prayer of Approach and Confession  

Good Shepherd,

help us to boldly proclaim your love,

lighting the way of your truth for all to see.

As we walk through green pastures,

beside still waters,

and even through the darkest valleys,

help us to go forth confidently.

For you are greater than our fears

and you know how to bring us peace.

As the world we live in seems to be a more fearful place every day,

help us to remember that you are with us.

Goodness and mercy may seem so elusive,

but we know that you have promised we will find

them in your house, if nowhere else.

Lord, we confess to you that there are times  

when we have  seen enemies in the faces of our neighbours…

the other, the refugee, the poor and the oppressed.

As you have prepared our tables, Lord,

Help us to turn enemies into friends.

Help us to desire a longer table,

where more can be welcomed in your name.

Amen.

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

God of the Resurrection,                                                                                            we thank you for the time that we have to worship and praise together this day.            We praise you for the continuing gift of Easter,                                                            for the Spring that brings longer days and beautiful flowers.                                     

We pray for that same new life and vitality within our churches, Lord,                          that we may be energised to do your work.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As you have been our shepherd, we pray for the shepherds within our own churches.    Those that keep watch, guarding your flocks.                                                            Those willing to go out and search for sheep in need.                                                  Bless all those willing to tell others about You. 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those walking daily on your path.                                                            On the days that the paths are straight, and the sun is shining,                                    it’s easy to follow you.                                                                                              On other days, when we’re walking in a dark valley, it’s more difficult.                        It’s during those times when we need you the most.

We pray especially for the sick, the elderly and bereaved:                                            that the Good Shepherd may give them courage                                                      and lead them beside the restful waters of healing and peace.

Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.                                                                        Amen.

The Dismissal

May you show the love of God in all you do.

Following the Good Shepherd,

welcome others with kindness, love, and humility.

Bring comfort to all,

making friends and not enemies,

wherever you go.

The Grace

PRAYERS FOR APRIL 28TH

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Call to Worship  

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his steadfast love endures for ever!

Open to me the gates of righteousness,

that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures for ever!

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

God of steadfast love,

we praise you for your love poured out in Creation,

in the glorious diversity of creatures,

in the splendour of the heavens

and the fertility of the earth.

We praise you for your love poured out in Jesus,

in healing and teaching, in signs and wonders,

in his humility and obedience,

in his death and rising again.

We praise you for your love poured out in the Spirit,

inspiring and guiding,

giving words and understanding,

building community and renewing faith.

We praise you for your love poured out on us,

God our creator, redeemer and spirit.

In this time of worship, may we abide in your love,

and share that love with those around us.

Loving God,

we confess that there are areas in our lives                                                              we would rather you did not see:

the blighted patches that we hardly notice,

the twisted thoughts that we have learnt to live with,

the fruitless stems of half-forgotten dreams.

In your incisive mercy,

prune us of our dead, diseased and damaged wood;

cut back our selfish growth,

clean us of unnecessary baggage.

Heal our wounds,

and train our new shoots into shape,

so that we may grow again in health and strength.

and bear much fruit.

We pray in the name of Jesus,                                                                                  Amen.

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

God who hears the cries of the poor,

we pray for a world where everyone has enough to eat,

a safe place to live,

access to education and healthcare,

and dignity and respect for who they are.

Give us the courage to challenge the structures of inequality,

and to speak for those whose voices are silenced.

God whose word is to be preached to all nations,

we pray for evangelists, teachers and preachers,

for those reaching people in new ways and places,

for those who take risks for the sake of the gospel.

Inspire and uphold them,

so that all they do is rooted in your love.

God who plants, tends and prunes,

we pray for farmers and growers,

that they may balance the drive to maximise crops

with care for the long-term health of the earth,

and that they may be properly paid for their work.

God who commands us to love one another,

help us to abide in your love, and deepen ours,

so that we may make this church a safe and welcoming place

for all who are here, and all who are yet to come.

God who cares for each one of us,

We hold before you the people we know who are suffering in body, mind or spirit…

Bring your comfort and healing to them and to those who care for them.

We ask all these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.                                    Amen.

The Dismissal

May the love of God                                                                                                  flow around you,

among you                                                                                                              and through you.

The Grace

PRAYERS FOR MAY 5TH

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Call to Worship

In the embrace of faith, let love be our call.
Together, we'll lift our praise of grace and compassion,

a symphony of souls, embracing God's love in unison.
Let the Spirit bind us as brothers and sisters, where love unites us all,
for in our worship, and in our lives, we are called to love one another.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

May gratitude for Your amazing grace
Transform every aspect of our being.

Gracious God,
Enliven our senses to recognise that everything is a gift of Your grace
and so enable us to perceive all of creation with wonder and gratitude.
Gazing upon Jesus, we are confronted with grace beyond our wildest dreams.
May His willingness to grant eternal life,
even while we were dead in our sins,
be the engine of our faithful response to Jesus' new command,
that we love one another.

May gratitude for Your amazing grace
Transform every aspect of our being.

Scripture dazzles us with how Your love and Your grace
explode across human barriers until they fill the whole world.
Hallelujah!
And so we give thanks:
For all the spiritual gifts, which we inherit through faith in Jesus.
For the Holy Spirit, who is alive, living and reigning within us.
For the world and all its resources, help us to tread lightly and share generously.
For our work and our hobbies, which add purpose and colour to our lives.                  For our families and friends, may we never take them for granted.
For those neighbours and colleagues we have yet to meet.
For those we find hard to love and for those who struggle to love us.
For the precious inheritance of culture and language,
help us to cherish these in order to bless our local communities and,                          ultimately, so we may contribute our voice                                                                to the praise of all nations in Heaven.

May gratitude for Your amazing grace
Transform every aspect of our being.

May our gratitude fuel the enthusiasm with which we respond to Jesus' call
to become disciple-making disciples,
baptising all who will receive His overture of grace
and teaching them to believe all that He has commanded.

May gratitude for Your amazing grace
Transform every aspect of our being.

Lord of Salvation, we are privileged to be called Your friends,
even Your children.
The rivers, the seas, and all creation testify to Your power,
and it does our hearts good to join that chorus.

We confess, though, that we resist Your call
and turn away from Your command.
We choose to align ourselves with some people while neglecting others,
as if Your love were not meant for all.
We allow tradition to order us
rather than opening ourselves to Your law of Love
and the new work You are doing.
Our faith is fleeting, and our lives do not bear lasting fruit.

In Your new-every-morning mercy, forgive us, we pray,
that as free people we might joyfully follow Your Spirit's leading.                              Amen.

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

God of love,
in whom we abide in love,
with whom we serve in love,
by whom we love one another,
we bring our prayers for others,
for our world, for our nation, for our neighbours,
in solidarity and hope.

We pray for those around the world
affected by the great challenges of our time:
injustice, climate change, conflict and division.
May Your love overcome fear and distrust,
nurturing partnerships of hospitality and welcome,
seeking to build a world of peace and hope,
of sustainability and harmony.

We pray for communities
ravaged by injustice – economic and social,
that the work of those promoting justice for all
would bear fruit, bringing new hope,
that all might sing a new song to the Lord
and rejoice together.

We pray for leaders,
those given responsibility to make decisions on our behalf,
in councils and parliaments, boards and trusts,
that decisions would be made
through the lens of love and care, compassion and thoughtfulness,
seeking the benefit of all, not just the few.

We pray for Your Church,
local congregations and national Areas,
that all would seek to live out their faith with authenticity and grace,

letting the love of God, expressed in action and kindness,
be our witness, without fear or worry.

We pray for families
whose lives have been overturned:
by conflict, seeking refuge and asylum,
that they would find welcome, support and a new start;
by poverty, seeking to feed and warm their families,
that they would retain their dignity;
by ill health,
seeking healing and restoration amidst an overstretched health system.

We pray, God of love,
in one breath lamenting situations that seem out of our control,
and with the next breath in joyful hope
for You lead us, a resurrection people, into the future,
abiding in Your love.
May we, in whatever way we can, inspired by Your love for us,
be Your hands and Your feet transforming the world about us,
one act of faithful service at a time.
Amen.

The Dismissal

Children of God,
as you go from here to grow the kingdom of God,
may you do so in love.
As you go from here to share the love of God
with all whom you meet,
may you do so, knowing that God loved us first,
God loves us still, and God always will.

The Grace

Minister ~ Rev Alan Kennedy 07733153203 01612703296 alanrk1690@gmail.com