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

 

 

PRAYERS FOR MAY 12TH

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

 

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 47)

 

Clap your hands, all you peoples;

shout to God with loud songs of joy.

For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome                                                               

a great king over all the earth.

God has gone up with a shout,                                                                                the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

Sing praises to God, sing praises,                                                                              sing praises to our King, sing praises.

For God is the king of all the earth;                                                                            sing praises with a psalm.

God is king over the nations;                                                                                    God sits on his holy throne.

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

 

Almighty God,

We come today reminded of your greatness and glory,

your sovereign power and eternal purpose

all expressed so wonderfully in Jesus Christ, our Lord, Risen and Ascended.

We thank you for the wonder of Ascension,

that marvellous yet mysterious moment in the life of the Apostles

which left them gazing heavenwards in confusion yet departing in joy.

 

We thank you for the way that it brought the earthly ministry of Jesus

to a fitting conclusion; signifying his oneness with you,

and demonstrating your final seal of approval on all that he had done.

 

We thank you that through his Ascension

Jesus is now set free to be Lord of all:                                                                        No longer bound to a particular place or time,

but with us always, able to reach even to the ends of the earth.

We thank you that through his departing Jesus prepared for his coming again:

through his Spirit, his Church, and his coming again in glory.

 

Gracious God,

Forgive us for so often failing to grasp the wonder of Ascension,

for living each day as though it had never been.

Forgive the smallness of our vision, the narrowness of our outlook,

the weakness of our love, the nervousness of our witness,

our repeated failure to recognize the fullness of your revelation in Christ.

Give us a deeper sense of wonder, a stronger faith,

and a greater understanding of all you have done.

 

Father God,

Like the Apostles, we too will never fully understand all Ascension means.

We accept, but we do not fully understand.

We believe, yet we have many questions.

Help us, despite our uncertainty, to hold firm to the great truth

that the wonder of Christ Jesus goes far beyond anything we can ever imagine,

and in that faith may we live each day

to his glory and honour.

Amen.

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

Prayers of Intercession

 

You are free, Lord, your Ascension has set you free:

free from the constraints of human existence,

outside the limitations of time and space; free to be here with us now,

in our worship and fellowship; and free to be with us always;

for in your freedom you have bound yourself to us with a promise:

 

“Lo! I am with you always

even to the very end of time.”

 

We pray, Lord, for those who need to feel you close,

who need the assurance of your love,

the encouragement of your Spirit.                                                                            [Silence]

We pray for those who are persecuted, who are discriminated against,

who are mocked because of their faith or race or colour.                                              [Silence]

We pray for those who are imprisoned, who are tortured,

who are exiled, because they have fought, struggled and spoken out

for the rights of their people.                                                                                    [Silence]

We pray for those who are destitute, who are hungry,

who are refugees, because of the selfishness and apathy of the world.                        [Silence]

We pray for those who are filled with guilt, who are broken-hearted,

who are perplexed, because a relationship has gone wrong.                                      [Silence]

We pray for those who are feeling fed up, who are in discomfort,

who are afraid, because they are ill in body, mind or spirit.                                          [Silence]

We pray for those who are numbed, who are angry,

who are desolate, because they have been bereaved.                                                  [Silence]

We pray for those caught up in war and violence,

and hatred; especially the innocent victims of these evils.                                            [Silence]

We pray for those who have lost jobs, those who struggle to pay bills,

and those who have the power to affect positive change.                                            [Silence]

 

Be with us all, Lord:

in all our daily struggles as we seek to follow you.

Be with us all, Lord:

in our periods of doubt and despair;

and in our times of happiness, health and loving.

Be with us all, Lord:

until that time when in your in your Kingdom of Love

our joy will know no end. 

Amen.

 

 

The Dismissal (based on Psalm 93)

 

As you go from this place, remember this:

Our God reigns!

He is robed with majesty and armed with strength.

His kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting.

He holds our world and our lives securely.

So do not be afraid,

but go from here with confidence,

knowing that the God who goes with you

is greater and more powerful

than anything else you will face this week.

 

The Grace

 

PRAYERS FOR MAY 19TH

PENTECOST SUNDAY

Call to Worship

The Day of Pentecost is here:
the day when the flames of faith dance in our hearts.
The Day of Pentecost is here:
the day when our babbling speech becomes the Good News for the world.
The Day of Pentecost is here:
the day when compassion is seared into our souls.
The Day of Pentecost is here:
let the people of God rejoice.

Alleluia!

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving, Confession and Petition

Lord God, thank you for this day of Pentecost
when we celebrate the coming of your promised Holy Spirit.
We give thanks that in eons past you poured out your Spirit on the earth,

fashioning men and women in your image
to enjoy the wonders of nature you had created;
that you kept rescuing us from ourselves despite our foolish ways
and our lack of understanding of what it means to be your children.

Lord, we give you thanks that you have kept your promises throughout the ages,

even when you despaired of our ever grasping the importance of placing you first in our lives and that you took steps to show us the futility of our actions.

At Easter, through your Son, Jesus the Christ, you were glorified;
At Pentecost, through your Holy Spirit, you set the early church on fire
and led the disciples into the world to preach your Word.
May all praise and worship be yours!

On this Pentecost Sunday, we confess to You, O Lord,                                                  our division, for we are not gathered together as Your people in one place;

our fear of the rush of your Spirit in our lives                                                              and what it might call us to do or to be;                                                                    our desire for a monolingual society, even when you allowed the early church to transcend all language, not favouring one over another;                                              our actions that can be like the crowds that taunt and torment,                                    mocking those who are filled with your Spirit                                                              that burns like fire and rushes like wind.

On this Pentecost Sunday, O Lord help us to let down our barriers to your Spirit;          guide us to live with joy, abandon, and faithfulness;                                                 

and create in us new hearts to be new people who worship only You.                         

Spirit of the Living God, dance with us on this day.
Come, Whirlwind of Wonder!
Sing to the groaning of creation.
Come, still small voice of Hope!
Enflame us with your passion for justice.
Come, Liberator of the Least!
Purify us of our grasping greediness.
Come, Advocate of selfless living!
Silence our gossiping tongues.
Come, Harmony of God's Heart!
Wind of God, blow through us;

Fire of God, burn within us;
Tongue of God, speak to us on this day of renewal and birth.

These our prayers we offer in Jesus name,

Amen.                                            

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

Prayers of Intercession

Loving God,                                                                                                            We ask for the gift of your Holy Spirit                                                                        to help us pray as we ought.

Holy Spirit: Help Us.

We ask for the energy and vision of your Spirit                                                          for those who are tiring in the battle against injustice and oppression:                          for those exhausted by the struggle with poverty and hunger.

Holy Spirit: Help Us.

We ask for the hope and comfort of your Spirit                                                        for those whose lives are overshadowed by illness or pain;                                          for those whose lives are darkened by sorrow or bereavement.

Holy Spirit: Help Us.

We ask for the peace and joy of your Spirit                                                                for those living in the shadow of war and violence;                                                      for those eaten up by guilt and anxiety                                                                      and whose Christian life has become hard and dry.

Holy Spirit: Help Us.

We ask for the guidance and strength of your Spirit                                                    for those uncertain how to use their time, talents and gifts;                                        for those tempted to do what is wrong.

Holy Spirit: Help Us.

We ask for the love and courage of your Spirit                                                            for those reaching out to comfort the distressed;                                                        for those reaching out to others with the Good News of Christ.

Holy Spirit: Help Us.

 

Loving God,                                                                                                            We ask for the assurance of your Spirit                                                                      to know your presence with us in our daily lives:                                                      in our relationships;                                                                                             

in our work and service;                                                                                          in our worship;                                                                                                        in our times of joy and pain.

Holy Spirit: Help Us.

In Jesus’ name:

Amen.

 

The Dismissal

In your moments of chaos                                                                                        God is with you.                                                                                                      In your moments of call                                                                                            God is with you.                                                                                                      In your moments of life.                                                                                          God is with you. Alleluia!                                                                                          Go as a Pentecost people,                                                                                      touched by fire,                                                                                                        stirred by wind,                                                                                                        to mend the world.                                                                                                  Alleluia!

 

The Grace

PRAYERS FOR MAY 26TH

TRINITY SUNDAY

Call to Worship

Let us worship the One

who spoke in the beginning

and created something out of nothing.

 

Let us worship the One

who took on the clothing of humanity

to set those who were oppressed free.

 

Let us worship the One

whose Spirit rests continually upon us,

calling us from sorrow-filled endings

to bright new beginnings.

 

Prayers of Approach, Thanksgiving and Confession

O Holy God,
like Isaiah the prophet, we stand in awe of Your glory,
feeling tremendously small and polluted by our sin,
and the sin of others.
Even so, as You touch us with Your burning presence,
we rejoice that we are made clean and whole.

O God, our Creator, continue to build this household of faith                                        into what You want us to be.
O Christ, our Saviour lead us to do as You will.
O Spirit, our power, strengthen us for the work of Your Kingdom.

O Blessed Trinity, fill this place and these people with Your presence.
Lead us into the world You love, so like us it will be filled with Your glory.

Almighty and everlasting God, we give You thanks that You revealed yourself                as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
and that You live and reign in the perfect unity of Love.
Lord, we worship You in the splendour of Your holiness.

You give strength to Your people and You bless them with peace.
We are ever mindful of the gifts You have given us and pray that we may use them to advance Your Kingdom.
We thank You for the knowledge that we may always come to You in prayer,
as we seek to do Your will, and that we are never alone.

Living and loving God,
We acknowledge that in our experiences of death,                                                      it is so easy for us to lose sight of You.
We know much about earthly things, but so little about heavenly things.

We stand in Your presence, O God, and become all too aware of our sins                      and shortcomings.
In confessing them, we thank You for the remarkable provision You've made to touch our lips and cleanse our hearts.
We are sorry for settling for a temple filled with Your glory,
when it is Your desire to fill the world with it.
Help us not to limit or restrict the reach of Your all-embracing love.
As we ask for Your help, we hear the cry of heaven for our help.
In response, we gladly say, ‘Here am I, send me!'
May more and more people see that God so loved the world                                        that He gave His one and only son.
And in so doing, He didn't come to condemn, but to save.

We ask all of these prayers in the name of the Son,
that we might know the love of the Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

Prayers of Intercession

Heavenly father, we come before You now with our prayers for our world.
Creator God, look around the beautiful and bountiful world that You have created,
giving thanks for the good gifts that You have given us.
Remind each of us of the role we have in caring for Your creation
and change the hearts of those who seek to destroy the beauty of the earth

for their own gain.

Encourage those who seek climate justice and those who work                                   

to restore our land, rivers and seas.
Creator God, help us work together to heal Your earth.

God of the sick, we think of all of those who are struggling                                         

with poor physical or mental health.
Draw alongside them that they may know Your healing love.
We pray for all of those who work in healthcare.
Grant them strength and wisdom for every challenge they face.
Be with those who walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
Walk with them, comfort them and bring them Your peace.

God of peace, we look around our world and see war and destruction.
Bring peace to every situation that knows the torment                                               

and uncertainty that war brings.
Protect those who are fleeing from violence and conflict;
grant them safe passage and help them to find welcome and acceptance     

wherever they find a home.

Eternal God, we pray for our churches locally, nationally and around the world.
Let them be a light in the darkness                                                                           

and beacons of hope in situations that seem hopeless.
As we give thanks for those who have nurtured us,                                                   

help us to sow seeds of faith in others.
Help us to reach out to those in our communities                                                       

who have yet to know you for themselves.

Living God, You know our every thought.
We bring before You now the situations that are known to us                                     

and the people that we love most.

Be with us as we journey together, through highs and lows.
Grant us wisdom to speak into the situations that need to hear our voice
and be with us in the silence when words fail us.

We pray for all of these things in Your holy name.                                                     

Amen

 

The Dismissal

Keep looking away from the world to Jesus,                                                             

who alone is your redeemer and provider.

Keep looking to the world                                                                                       

that it may be transformed by Your presence through us.

Keep looking to your own hearts,                                                                             

so that you will say daily, ‘Here am I, send me!'

The Grace

PRAYERS FOR JUNE 2ND

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

We come to worship, we come to hear:                                                                     

speak, Lord, your servants are listening.                                                                   

Despite the siren voices around us, we are here:                                                       

speak, Lord, your servants are listening.                                                                   

In the Babel noise of our world, we come to hear You, O God:                                     

speak, Lord, your servants are listening.

 

Prayers of Approach, Thanksgiving and  Confession

We know, O God, that you search and know us,                                                         

that no one, not even ourselves, knows us as well as you do;                                     

you discern our thoughts even when we are far away from you,                                 

you journey with us in our coming and going, our resting and our sleeping.               

You knit us together in the womb, and we praise you                                             

for your fearful and wonderful creation; a creation that includes even us!  

We give thanks that we belong, body and soul, to you,                                               

the One who gives us breath, who is our comfort in life and death,                             

and has redeemed us from the powers and principalities of this world                         

and frees us from the evil that seeks to drag us down.  

We give thanks that we belong, body and soul, to you,

the One who gives us breath and so we no longer live for ourselves but for Christ,       

taking comfort that we belong to Him,                                                                     

yearning for the resurrection that is to come, when we will be made whole.  

We give thanks that we belong, body and soul, to you,

the One who gives us breath who calls us to follow in the everyday things of life,         

to perceive what eyes don’t fully see,                                                                       

to listen to what our ears don’t normally hear,                                                           

to dream what the human heart struggles to imagine - the world that is to come,

when all will be free and creation will be made whole.          

Yet we know, O God, that we try to flee from your Spirit,                                           

to block our ears when you speak.                                                                           

We prefer the noise of our world to the calm of your Breath.                                       

We try to take the wings of the morning                                                                   

and settle at the farthest reaches of the sea.                                                             

We try to flee from you by making our bed in Hell,                                                     

and yet you are there, waiting for us to turn back to you.     

Forgive us, O Holy One, when we turn from you,                                                       

remind us of your loving kindness, and assure us, always,                                         

of the power of your love, found in weakness,                                                         

defying even death, restoring us to wholeness.                                                         

Amen.

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

Prayers of Intercession

We bring our prayers for the world, the Church and those we love to Most High,

who hears us even as we long to hear God.

Eternal One, we bring to you places of pain in our world,                                           

where your voice is drowned out by hate;                                                               

where guns and missiles, tanks and soldiers, drones and bombs                                 

banish the cool whisper of your calm.   

Speak your peace, O God, in Gaza, in Israel, in Ukraine and Russia.                           

We hear the hatred too, Most High, away from the battle field;                                 

in our political life here and around the world rhetoric is weaponised,                         

diversity denied, and narrow identities trump the richness of our culture.                            

Speak your peace, O God, to our political leaders and candidates,                           

that public service will again be honourable. (Silence)

Risen Lord Jesus, we bring you the Church terrible as a mighty army with banners,

yet suffering with neglect, bemused by cultural change,                                             

and living with self-imposed wounds.                                                                                                    

We pray for those who have been hurt by the Church,                                             

those abused by clergy and Christian institutions,                                                     

and those denied a place at the table for how they love.

We pray for those who lead the Church,                                                                 

charged with hearing and responding to your voice

in a time and culture they don’t fully understand,

that through the noise they hear your voice,                                         

and follow where you call. (Silence)

Most Holy Spirit, we pray for our culture,                                                                 

giving thanks for the rich diversity of our world,                                                         

and for your work in stirring consciences to action.                                                     

Help us listen for where you are at work – and then join in!

We pray too, O Comforter, for those we know and love                                               

who are in any kind of need. (Silence)

We offer these prayers, O Most High,

in the name of Jesus,                                                       

Amen.

 

The Dismissal

May the One who calls you in the night and the day,                                                    the One who encourages you to do courageous things,                                                and the One who inspires you through the everyday things of life,                                call, encourage and inspire you, that you may follow.

 

The Grace

PRAYERS FOR JUNE 9TH

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

 

Come sons and daughters,

mothers and fathers,

sisters and brothers and aunts!

 

Come grandmas and grandads,

uncles and nephews,

nieces and neighbours and friends!

 

Christ calls us together as parts of one Body,

for worship and service and praise!

 

Let us worship God together!

 

Prayers of Approach, Thanksgiving and Confession

Heavenly Father, you call us like a good parent to you to guide and protect us,            to nourish and lead us.

Brother Jesus, you call us like a caring elder brother to serve us and help us,                to cheer us and invite us.

Healing Spirit, you call us and move us ever closer into fellowship with you                  and each other.

Faithful God,

we come into Your presence with thanksgiving,

deeply grateful for the unfailing love and faithfulness

You have shown toward us, Your people.

When we call out to You, You answer.

When we are exhausted, You give us the strength to go on.

When we find ourselves in trouble,

You are there, standing beside us.

And so we come before You gratitude and praise,

offering You the worship of our hearts and lives.

Open our eyes to see and know You here among us;

open our ears to recognize Your voice.

 

Like unruly children we strain at your guidance, we try to break away and do it ourselves.

We feel our strength and imagine to be all powerful.                                   

We rejoice in our life and imagine ourselves to be immortal.                                     

We know our talents and want to be independent rather than depend on you.

Before we know it, we are in the grip of other powers, leading us away from your loving ways into the slavery of selfish greed, adoring false gods of youthfulness, materialism and power.

 

Lord, forgive us and free us.                                                                                   

Open our eyes how your wisdom knows true leadership to be service.                         

Open our hearts that we may learn that neither race or tribe,

culture or religion are barriers to separate us but that we are all one family in your love.        So open our hearts and minds to learn again to live your love                                     

as we celebrate and worship you here together.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

Prayers of Intercession

Heavenly Father, you call us to be your friends and to make friends of others,

to recognize in them our brothers and sisters, your family in Christ.                        

So we pray for ourselves and for the world and its people:

We pray for all areas in the world where deep divisions run between ethnic groups

because of race, religion or past history.                                                                                                   

Lord, help your people to be your friends and to make friends,                                   

your family in Christ.

 

We pray for our communities where different traditions                                           

shape different outlooks on things.                                     

Lord, help your people to listen well to each other                                                     

that we may learn to live together                                                                           

knowing that though different we are your family in Christ.

We pray for our own families, where growing up is difficult,

where harsh words spoken in anger are not easily taken back,                                   

and hurtful or thoughtless actions are endangering relationships.                                                                                                                              

Lord, empower your children to be patient, slow to anger                                           

and to become wise in their speaking and acting as your family in Christ.

Amen.

 

The Dismissal

Brothers and sisters of Christ, go into all the world!
Go forth with forgiveness and grace.
Go forth with compassion and love.
Go as Christ’s family
for all the world to see.

 

The Grace

PRAYERS FOR JUNE 16TH

FATHERS DAY

Father’s Day Call to Worship  (based on Psalm 103)

 

Come, bless the Lord with me!

For the Lord is like a father to his children

compassionate and merciful,

filled with endless love.

He forgives our sins,

and heals the sickness inside us;

he surrounds us with love and mercy

and fills our lives with good things!

Let us worship God together!

 

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Loving God, we come on this Father’s Day,

reminded that you are the Father of us all.

You have been with us from our birth,

guiding, nurturing and sustaining us.

Father God, we praise you.

 

You have taught us and brought us to maturity,

always concerned for our welfare,

constantly seeking the best for us.

Father God, we praise you.

 

Whenever we have needed you, you have been there,

willing to listen and advise,

yet giving us the freedom to make our own choices

and find our own way.

Father God, we praise you.

 

You have called us to be your family,

a people united through your son, Jesus Christ,

and through him you have revealed your love,

a love that reaches out to us day by day

despite our failure to love you in return.

Father God, we praise you.

Teach us to live as your children –

to hear your voice,

obey your instruction,

and respond to your goodness.

Father God, we praise you.

 

Teach us to bear your name with pride,

to share with others,

through word and deed,

the joy you have given us.

Father God, we praise you.

 

And finally, receive our thanks,

for the fathers you have given us,

all they have meant to us,

all they have given,

and all they have done in so many ways.

Father God, we praise you.

 

O God, Father that you are,

you know what is right for us,

but too often we only want our way or no way,

instead of your way.

Have mercy upon us when we turn from you.

 

Forgive us when we do not realize

your fatherly love and direction for us.

Have mercy upon us indeed,

and teach us anew how to follow you,

Father that you are.

We pray this through your Son,

our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,                                                                           

Amen.

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

 

Prayers of Intercession

 

Gracious God,

You know the joy of fatherhood and also the pain,

for you witnessed the life and death of your Son,

and you see each day the triumphs and tragedies of us,

your children.

Lord God our Father, reach out in love.

 

In Jesus you experienced the delight of being a father –

as you watched him grow and mature into adulthood,

as you saw him baptised in the Jordan,

as day by day he responded to your guidance,

faithful to the very last –

a beloved son with whom you were well pleased.

Yet you also experienced agony –

in the horror of the Cross,

the pain, the humiliation,

and the sorrow he endured for our sakes.

Lord God our Father, reach out in love.

 

In each of us you find pleasure –

when we pursue what is good,

when we honour your commandments,

when we seek your will and respond to your guidance.

But we cause you also so much pain –

 through our weakness,

 our repeated disobedience,

 our deafness to your call and our rejection of our love.

Lord God our Father, reach out in love.

 

Gracious God,

you know the joy and the pain of fatherhood,

and so now we pray for fathers everywhere.

Help them to appreciate both the privilege

and the responsibility they bear,

and teach them to give freely of themselves

so that they may discover the happiness,

 the fulfilment and the inexpressible rewards that fatherhood brings.

Lord God our Father, reach out in love.

 

Give them wisdom, patience and dedication,

and grant them strength to persevere

when children bring tears as well as laughter,

anxiety as well as hope, pain as well as pleasure.

Lord God our Father, reach out in love.

 

Reach out, we pray, to all fathers in such circumstances –

those who question their ability to cope, or fear they have failed;

those striving to offer support, or feel they have nothing left to give.

Lord God our Father, reach out in love.

 

And finally, hear our prayer for children

who on this Father’s day feel pain instead of joy –

those whose fathers have died, those orphaned as children,

those who have been mistreated, rejected, abused,

and those from broken homes who barely see or know their fathers.

Lord God our Father, reach out in love,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.                                                                             

Amen.

 

Benediction for Father’s Day (based on Psalm 103)

 

As you go from here, remember this:                                                                   

God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting,

from generation to generation.                                                                                 

Just as a father has compassion on his children

so God has compassion on those fear him,                                                           

who listen to his voice, and who do his will.                                                         

Go out in the knowledge that the everlasting love of God goes with you.

 

The Grace

PRAYERS FOR JUNE 23RD

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Opening Prayer

Mighty God, who speaks a word of peace to calm our troubled sea;
Caring God, who nudges us away from fear and toward faith;                               

Ever-present God, who fills us with awe
but also raises many questions
without easy answers;

Open our eyes to see you in our boat—today,
Strengthen our hearts for the challenges that lie ahead,
Open our ears this hour to hear the word you would speak.

This we pray, In Jesus’ name.                                                                             

Amen

Prayers of Approach and Confession

Lord God of all Creation, we thank you that we come to you                                 

from our storm-tossed lives to seek your peace;                                                   

we thank you that we can come to you with our questions and uncertainties,         

our worries and anxieties, we thank you that we can come to you with joy and our happiness, each emotion a kaleidoscope of our feeling in life’s changing patterns.

More than all of that, we thank you that we can come to you because of what you have done for us in the love of Christ, who bought our freedom by his sacrifice on the Cross and showed us new life in his resurrection life.                                                           

We bless you for the love which has no dimension of length breadth or height, coming as it does from the perfection your being. We come to you knowing that sometimes we have received your grace in vain.

We have not relied on your word or wisdom;                                                       

we have not shown any concern or compassion when we should have;

we have not loved our neighbour as we love ourselves.

We have remained silent when we should have spoken

and spoken when we should have been silent.

 

We seize the moment to ask you from our discordant lives 

for yet another chance of hearing you say to us ‘Your sins are forgiven.’

May the mark of that forgiveness be your grace in us

as we respond with grace and gratitude to your love.

Eternal God as we ask that you accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord,

we pray that from the grace we have received, what we say and what we do will enable those around us to glimpse the life of the your Son -- who calmed the storm with words which still echo down the centuries, ‘Peace be still’.                         

Amen.

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

Prayers of Intercession

In faith that the living God hears us when we call to him                                       

and that he cares about the needs of his world                                                     

let us pray for his help and strength now, on this day of salvation.

We pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ

facing the turbulence of persecution and oppression.                                             

We pray that they will find the hope and strength they need                                 

to keep firm in their faith.

We pray for all people facing the turbulence of war and terrorism.                         

We pray that the forces of angry violence may be restrained by the rebuke of those calling for a calm and peaceful resolution of differences.      

We pray for those facing the turbulence of fear, pain and illness.                           

We pray that above the raging voice of suffering in all its forms                             

the calming voice of the one who heals may be heard and obeyed.

 

We pray for ourselves in the times when we face drowning                                   

in the turbulence of doubt.                                                                                 

We pray that our faith may grow in strength so that we can proclaim to others       

the power of Jesus to overcome the darkness of this world.

Heavenly Father, hear our prayers offered to you today                                         

out of the turbulence of this your fractured world.                                                 

Renew our faith and grant us again a vision of the world as you meant it to be

when you laid its foundations at the dawn of time.               

Hear our prayers, offered to you in the name of your son,                                     

Amen.

 

The Dismissal

Go now into a world beset by storms of worries and fears.
Go to the far side of despair,
bringing God's hope to all huddled on that shore.
Go now into all the places where people are afraid.
Set out from the shore of your comfortable lives,
bringing the good news of Jesus' grace to all.
Go now to the distant shores torn apart by violence and oppression.
Set out with the Spirit as your guide,
crying out to all,                                                                                                     

"Peace! Be still!”

 

The Grace

PRAYERS FOR JUNE 30TH

FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

 

Loving God,
we are yours.
We come as we are,
with our cares and concerns.
We long to touch you
and find healing in your embrace.
Strengthen our faith
and heal our brokenness,
that we may worship you with joy. 

 

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

 

Loving God our creator,                                                                                           

as the Psalmist called out to you in adoration, so do we.

For all the times you have lifted us up:

forming us in our mother’s womb,

filling our lives with signs of your love

surrounding us with grace,

we sing out in remembrance of your holiness.

 

Loving saviour, Jesus Christ,

for all the times you have lifted us up:

sharing our human nature,

teaching and healing all who came to you

surrounding us with grace,

we sing out in remembrance of your holiness.

 

Loving Holy Spirit,

for all the times you have lifted us up:

coming to us as helper and comforter,

strengthening all those who need you

surrounding us with grace,

we sing out in remembrance of your holiness.

 

Yet at times we have forgotten your grace and your love,

hear, O Lord, and have mercy on us.

Do not let our fear of failure fill our hearts

but help us to know that you are our helper who can clothe us with joy.

Assurance of Pardon

 

The Holy God comes near to each one of us;

God’s grace can turn weeping to dancing as we hear God’s words:

‘Child, your sins are forgiven – be made whole.’                                                         

Thanks be to God.                                                                                                   

Amen

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

 

Prayers of Intercession

 

The Psalmist tells us: Weeping may spend the night, but joy comes in the morning (Ps 130v6)

 

All-holy God,

we thank you for the joy of your healing presence,

and we pray for those who most need to know your healing this day.

God who hears…bring healing, bring joy.

 

We pray for those who weep in frustration,

as our planet continues to be threatened

due to selfish exploitation by the human race.

God who hears…bring healing, bring joy.

                                          

We pray for those who weep in fear,

as warfare ravages lands and homes,

and peace seems impossible.

God who hears...bring healing, bring joy.

 

We pray for those who weep in pain,

as they wait for treatment or hope for a breakthrough.

God who hears...bring healing, bring joy.

 

We pray for those who weep in anger, as they fail to find meaningful work                

or as relationships break down.                                                                                   

God who hears...bring healing, bring joy.

 

We pray for those who weep in despair,

as they feel that no-one listens and no-one cares.

God who hears...bring healing, bring joy.

 

Weeping may spend the night, but joy comes in the morning.

 

We pray for those who bring healing, joy and hope to others.

Help us to find ways to serve the needs around us,

And bring us, at the last, to the eternal morning of your joy with all your saints in heaven, through our Saviour Jesus Christ.                                                                 

Amen.

 

The Dismissal

 

Go, confident in the knowledge of God’s steadfast love for you,
assured of the healing touch of Jesus upon you                                                         

and emboldened by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit within you.

 

 

The Grace

PRAYERS FOR JULY 7TH

SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

When they said: Let us go to God's House,
Our hearts were filled with joy.

And here we are, in the place of God's dwelling:

Jerusalem, City of God, centre of worship.
All are invited here to worship, praise and give thanks
To the name of God.

Let us worship within these walls
and praise the God who calls us here.

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

 

Truly God, You are above reproach.
You have gifted us a world in which to live
that provides all that any of us need.
We can stand in awe at the beauty and bounty around us.

How can we ever match up to this?
How can we even begin to grasp
Your generosity?
Your grace?

For all that You have given us
we are truly grateful,
humbled even.
We bow before You in awe
and wonder.
Gracious, generous God,
accept our thanks and praise.

God of the past and of the future,
when we look back
may we look forward too.
When we dream of the past,
may those dreams still shape our future.
May our faith be rich enough
to see through, past golden eras,
knowing that You haven't finished
with us yet:
We shall still be a community,
we shall still find a new song to sing,
we shall still believe
You make all things new.

Forgive us for when we get things wrong,
relying on our own, and forgetting
to be guided and inspired by Your story.

Help us to look forward,
learning from the past
inspired by Jesus in the present
and guided by Your spirit into the future.

We are part of something quite extraordinary –
We are part of Your story:
past, present and future.

Accept our prayers,
in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.

Amen

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

Heavenly King,
we pray for our world,
which needs a servant king
to wash the feet of those
who have forgotten
what it is to be touched:
the lonely,
the forgotten,
the ridiculed.

Hear us.

We pray for our world,
which needs a unifier
to bring together those who are enemies
and those who have been forgotten:
the hungry,
the well-fed,
the rich,
the poor.
Hear us.

We pray for our world,
which needs to remember
whose we are
and what we have been called to do,
and whose we have been called to be:
peacemakers,
bread-breakers,
justice-bringers.
Hear us.

We pray for the world,
which needs leadership
to renew our covenant with You
and to refresh our memories
of how we got to be here:
the long path,
the falling in,
and the falling out,
the journey through our living.
Hear us.

Amen

 

The Dismissal

May the past
be the beginning of the future for you.
May the faith
be the beginning of eternity for you.
May the way
be all the steps that led you here.
And may love
be the guide that takes you further.

May the God
of the past, present, and future,
be the God of today
and tomorrow and yesterday,
and may we look back to this point in time
and know God has been here,
and leads us on.

The Grace

PRAYERS JULY 14TH

SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

 

Creator God for the wonder of your world, we praise you,

with hearts and hands and voices.

 

Compassionate Jesus for your unconditional love, we praise you,

with hearts and hands and voices.

 

Cajoling Spirit who unsettles and challenges us, we praise you,

with hearts and hands and voices.

 

With hearts overflowing with gratitude,

with hands active in care for others,

with voices raised in praise and worship

We meet together in your name.

 

Prayer of Approach and Confession

 

Loving and faithful God,

we come into your presence rejoicing.

To sing your praise,

to hear your words of acceptance

to share your all-inclusive love.

 

Be present with us in this time together as we come to worship you.

Knowing that we are called to walk the way of Jesus

we come just as we are and experience your welcome here.

 

Living Jesus, You show us that God is love:

You love with a love which reaches to all people;

with a love which keeps no record of wrong;

with a love that never ends.

 

Console us where we feel sad;

come close where we are lonely;

forgive us where we are feeling guilty;

reassure us where we are anxious.

Speak our names in the voice we recognise as the one who made us,

who knows us inside out;

and cares for us more than any other,

the one who has promised never to leave or let us go.

So that in this we may go from here comforted, pardoned,

strengthened and cheered, better able to serve you in your world

and to live in the fullness of life that you give us and all people everywhere.              

Amen.

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

We pray for all who speak out fearlessly

for truth and justice, knowing that they may pay a heavy price.

Be with them, Lord, as inspiration and friend.

 

We pray for those who recognise what is just and true,

yet succumb to pressure

from those who would see goodness destroyed.

Be with them, Lord, as encourager and beacon of truth.

 

We pray for those who are overwhelmed

by a thirst for vengeance,

and seek a violent solution.

Be with them, Lord, as prick of conscience and victor of evil.

 

We pray for the friends and families

who grieve,

when the courageous voice of truth is silenced.

Be with them all, Lord, as fellow sufferer and eternal comforter.

 

We pray for our church communities

that we might shine with kindness and love,

acceptance and welcome,

for all who serve

and discern your future.

We pray for people of peace and good will

to resist and fight against all that divides us,

to see goodness and love

and much to applaud in your world.

 

We pray for our homes and neighbourhoods,

our workplaces and streets,

remembering especially those who are struggling,

experience difficulties and go unnoticed.

 

We pray for our world,

for places of conflict,

for those leading cruel and unjust regimes,

for all who work for peace and fairness.

 

These prayers we offer in the name                                                                     

and in the spirit of Jesus,   

Amen.

 

The Dismissal

Go into God’s world to resist injustice.

Go into God’s world to speak of peace.

Go into God’s world to walk gently.

Go into God’s world to discover Jesus all around us,

in the life you live and the love you share.

The Grace

PRAYERS JULY 21ST

EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

 

The Holy One is with us. God’s hand remains with us.
God’s love is steadfast. God’s strength is enough. We can rest in God’s presence.
The Holy Love keeps his covenant from generation to generation                                               and establishes our future.
God’s love is steadfast. God’s strength is enough. We can rest in God’s presence.
Let us worship God together and praise the Holy Name!
God’s love is steadfast. God’s strength is enough. We can rest in God’s presence.

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

 

Companion God,

we praise you for the grace which is always on the move,

from death to life, desolation to hope, famine to feasting.

As we travel this road of pain and rejoicing,

we give thanks that you go with us as our guardian and friend:

that you have taken us by the hand and led us,

giving guidance and support.

Your presence travels with us: You will give us rest.

 

We give thanks that you have strengthened us for the work of faith,

the labour of love, the steadfastness of hope.

Your presence travels with us: You will give us rest.

 

We give you thanks that you have made us imitators of your saints and disciples,

and of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your presence travels with us: You will give us rest.

 

We give you thanks that as we have received your Word with joy,

even in the midst of our suffering, you have revealed to us your ways.

Your presence travels with us: You will give us rest.

 

We give you thanks that we belong to you and you have shown us your glory.

Your presence travels with us: You will give us rest.

 

We give you thanks that through our example                                                     

others have been encouraged and inspired.

Your presence travels with us: You will give us rest.

 

Lord God of all Creation we come to you from our hectic storm-tossed lives to seek your peace; we come to you with our questions and uncertainties, our worries and anxieties, we come to you from our joy and our happiness-- each emotion a kaleidoscope of our feeling in life’s changing patterns.

 

More than all of that we come to you because of what you have done for us in the love of Christ who bought our freedom and new life by his Cross and resurrection.         

We come to you knowing that sometimes we have received your grace in vain.
We have not relied on your word or wisdom, we have not shown any concern or compassion when we should have; we have not loved our neighbour as we love ourselves. We have remained silent when we should have spoken and spoken when we should have been silent.

 

We seize the moment to ask you from our discordant lives for yet another chance of hearing you say to us ‘Your sins are forgiven’. May the mark of that forgiveness be your grace in us as we respond with grace and gratitude to your love.

 

Eternal God as we ask that you accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray that from the grace we have received, what we say and what we do will enable those around us to glimpse the life of your Son -- who calmed the storm with words which still echo down the centuries, 

‘Peace be still’.                                 

Amen.

 

 

Prayers of Intercession

 

Compassionate God,
You have compassion enough for all.
Lord in your mercy, have compassion for us.

Jesus, out of your compassion for us,
you invite us to come away with you
to a place of rest and quiet.
Help us to say yes and then to be able to come away with you.
Lord in your mercy, have compassion for us.

Lord, out of your compassion you care for
Those who are harassed, helpless, and
Lost. Sometimes we feel that way ourselves
Lord in your mercy, have compassion for us.

Lord in your compassion teach us to follow you,
to trust you, to love you and to love as you love.
Lord in your compassion feed us who are hungry;
Physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Lord in your compassion heal us in the places we need healed.
Lord in your mercy, have compassion for us.

And Lord in your having compassion for us
Teach us to have compassion for others as you do.
Help us to show compassion in action the way you did.
And remind us when it is time to come away with you
for quiet and rest.
Lord in your mercy, have compassion for us.

Amen

 

 

The Dismissal

 

When you work,
work as though worked for the Lord.
When you rest,
rest in the sovereign grace of God
And when you celebrate,
celebrate as a people with the greatest reason
for love, joy, and celebration.
Go now in the grace and forgiveness of our Savior,
in the name of the Father and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Grace

SUNDAY PRAYERS JULY 28TH 

NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

If you arrive here hungry for more of that divine bread which feeds your soul,

then I welcome you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I, your minister, may sometimes disappoint you, but he will not.

His grace is sufficient for all your needs.

 

Jesus says: “I am the bread of life.

Those who come to me shall not hunger,

and those who believe in me shall never thirst.”

 

Prayers of Approach, Thanksgiving and Confession

 

O Bread of heaven,
come down.
Come down and fill us with your Spirit,
for your Spirit satisfies like no other.
We hunger and thirst for you this morning
and long to be nurtured
in your love and forgiveness.
So we come to this sacred time and place,
where our hungers are finally and fully satisfied
as only your bread can do.

 

God of our hopes and dreams,
we give you thanks that when we are empty you long for us to be filled;
when we are hungry, you long for us to be fed;
when we are lost, you long for us to be found.
We thank you that you gather us into your love,
and pick up the pieces of our lives,
just as Jesus gathered up the fragments
of the five loaves and two fish
that remained after feeding the five thousand.
Call us anew to eat our fill
and to find our true nourishment in Jesus,
the bread of heaven.

God, you loved this world so much

that you sent your own son, Jesus Christ

to live and die among us,

in order that we might have life.

 

Forgive us for keeping that abundant life to ourselves,

for jealously hoarding your generous gifts,

for choosing self-interest over compassion and justice,

for clutching the bread of life in our own hands                                                     

while others hunger for your filling

Teach us what it means to live as children of the light,

generously sharing your abundance

with our brothers and sisters in need. 

These prayers we offer in Jesus` name,

Amen.

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

Prayers of Intercession

 

Loving God,

You are our Creator and Sustainer.

When You open Your hand,

You satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

And so we look to You whenever we are in need,
trusting in Your love and Your abundant goodness.

 

As You once fed the hungry crowds with five loaves and two small fish,

we ask that You would again fill those who are empty this day.

Pour out Your Spirit on all who hunger and thirst.

 

We pray for those who are physically hungry—whose stomachs are empty.

We think especially of those who are facing critical food shortages;

who are suffering the effects of malnutrition and starvation;

and watching helplessly as loved ones die.

 

Lord, in Your mercy, open Your hand.

Pour out Your Spirit, so that they may be filled. 

 

We pray for those who are empty emotionally—

who are lonely and long for companionship and love,                                           

who are caught in the grip of depression, or overwhelmed with grief.

 

Lord, in Your mercy, open Your hand.

Pour out Your Spirit, so that they may be filled. 

 

We pray for those who are spiritually empty—

who are troubled, but don’t know where to turn;

who long for purpose and meaning, but don’t know where to look;
who need You, but do not yet know You.

 

Lord, in Your mercy, open Your hand.

Pour out Your Spirit, so that they may be filled. 

 

God, we praise You for Your abundant gifts in our lives.

Pour out Your Spirit on us as well.

Fill us with Your compassion and love,

so that we would willingly share some of our abundance

with those who have need.

 

Lord, in Your mercy, open Your hand.

Pour out Your Spirit, so that we may be filled.

 

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ,

who came so that all of humanity might come to know

the abundant life that comes from You.

Amen.

 

 

The Dismissal

 

If you have found some of the good bread of Christ here this day,

then do not hesitate to share it with others.

For this is the bread that increases the more it is given away,

and nourishes us best in the presence of goodwill and laughter.

 

May the love of God

which gives life to the world, sustain you;
May the bread of life, Jesus Christ,

feed you with the food that endures to eternal life;
May the power of the Holy Spirit

nourish and strengthen you in faith.

 

 

The Grace

SUNDAY PRAYERS AUGUST 4TH AND 11TH

TENTH AND ELEVENTH SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY

Prayers of Approach, Thanksgiving and Confession

God, our hope,                                                                                                 

as we gather now to worship you,                                                                       

fill us with anticipation and prepare us by your Spirit.                                           

Be the first thought in our hearts and help us to be conscious of your direction.

Strengthen us for service,                                                                                   

nourish us with the bread of life,                                                                         

transform us for mission.                 

The Lord Jesus took bread and fish and shared them with the multitudes, giving them sustenance and meeting their needs.

May the Lord’s grace abound to us according to our need.

And may we abound in praise and in every good work.                                              

The Lord Jesus said, ‘I am the living bread come down from heaven,’ showing us the way of self-sacrifice and generosity.

May the Lord’s grace abound to us according to our need.

And may we abound in praise and in every good work.                                                                                                  

As we come into God`s presence, let us come honestly before Him and acknowledge our shortcomings and the ways we have compromised our faith.     

We know that this week we have preferred to stay with the questions rather than to look for solutions in the global provision of food and resources.                             

Forgive us that we have kept what we have to ourselves rather than offering it up to you for your blessing so that you might feed and sustain others.                       

Forgive us that we have forgotten to gather up the pieces                                     

and have failed to be concerned about the waste that our society produces.           

Be for us here the Bread of Heaven, and feed and renew us                                   

so that we might share in your purpose in giving life to the world.                         

Let us return to the Source of All Being,                                                               

that we might draw strength and encouragement.                                               

May the springs of living water well up within us to cleanse and renew us.             

May the rivers of righteousness flow out from us                                                   

to bring healing to the whole creation.                                                                 

In the name of Christ we ask this.                                                                       

Amen.

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

Gracious Lord, move us, your people, to experience your love more deeply.           

Fill us with the energy that comes from a desire for service.                                 

Connect us with creation to care for your world.                                                   

Engage us in the scriptures and increase our knowledge of you.                             

Raise up your power and come among us.                                                           

May your bountiful grace and mercy equip us.

Help us, your people, to be deeply rooted in our local communities.                       

Help us to make connections between faith and daily living.                                   

Help us to be passionate and prophetic about justice and peace.                         

Help us to respond to human need by loving service.                                           

Raise up your power and come among us.                                                           

May your bountiful grace and mercy equip us.

Encourage us, your people, both to embrace the past and to dare the new.             

Guide us to take risks and to learn from different experiences.                               

Motivate us to invest our lives in others as Jesus did.                                           

Grant us intimacy with yourself and involvement with others.                               

Raise up your power and come among us.                                                           

May your bountiful grace and mercy equip us.                                                   

Amen.

The Dismissal

Filled to the brim with the goodness of God;

the nourishment of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life,

and the power of the Holy Spirit,

go now in peace to serve God in all that you think, do and say.

God’s peace be  always with you. 

 

The Grace

SUNDAY PRAYERS AUGUST 18TH

TWELTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

 

Most holy God,

you are the Giver and Goal of everything that ever has been or ever will be.

Our minds founder when we try to conceive your eternity.                                     

Our souls are hushed when we approach your glory.

Here, in your presence, our foolish pomposity is cut down to size                           

and we begin to see things in proportion.

We are the creatures; you are the Creator.                                                           

We are the lost children; you are the Saviour.

We make do with a small, corrupted intellect, you are unfathomable Wisdom.

We worship your greatness, we praise your generosity, we glorify your patience.

 

Have mercy on the rank silliness that distorts our behaviour, 

the ease with which we get seduced by trivial goals, 

the clumsiness and insecurity that mark our relationships, 

the burdens and hurts we impose on one another, 

the sneaky way we dilute the Gospel to suit our prejudices, 

and the apathy that gets in the way between us and your saving grace.

 

Please pity our weakness and forgive our sins.                                                     

With your grace taking away our shame and healing the diseases of our spirit,       

let us begin again with no agenda except that of loving to live                               

as your redeemed children. 

We give thanks for the salvation that flows through us                                         

from the crucified and risen Christ.                                                                     

We thank you, God of grace and glory, that our sins are forgiven,                         

our values are reinstated, and our hopes have returned.                                       

We thank you that in Christ all things are made new, and that you promise to one day complete in us the transformation that has begun.                            

We thank you for the ongoing signs that your grace has not been in vain,            

for the truly worthwhile things we have done,  the goodness we have upheld,

the love we have embodied,  and the Saviour whom  we have authentically glorified. 

Blessed are you, author and finisher of our faith!                                                 

Amen.

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

Prayers of Intercession

Here we are God, living among people of strong faith or no faith,                           

with wide experience or constricted understanding, big hearts or narrow minds, brave deeds or timid retreats.

Please let your blessing continue to fall on all humanity, that we may be cured of our maladies and saved from our addiction to evil.

Here we are God, living in a world where some have wealth and some poverty, some wield much power while many feel powerless, where good people often suffer while the bad go arrogantly on their way.

Please show us how to best redress injustices and correct abuses, and how to tend the needs of those who have suffered badly at the hands of their fellows.

Here we are God, living in a world where access to the best health care or justice through the legal system is limited by lack of money, community indifference, or political clout.

Please assist the forgotten people and help us all to learn from the way of Christ and apply it where we live and work.

Here we are God, living in a community where many are afflicted by cancer, covid, arthritis, heart and kidney disease, depression and many more kinds of conditions.

Please bless those who give skilled care to the sufferers and help the rest of us of us to be quick to understand and eager to assist wherever practicable.

Here we are God, members of a church where some feel at home and others feel on the fringe, where faith jostles for leverage over doubt and love struggles to disperse indifference, and where we often allow the world to set our goals and morals rather than the Gospel.

Please help us to love one another with that practical compassion and courage that we have seen on Christ Jesus.                                                                           

Through him, and to your praise, we offer these prayers.

Amen.

 

The Dismissal

These are complex times.                                                                                   

Look carefully how you walk, not blundering along like fools,                             

but as those who are wise with the wisdom of Christ.

Wherever you go and whatever happens to you,                                                   

give thanks to God, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace mercy and peace be with you today and always.

 

The Grace

 

SUNDAY PRAYERS AUGUST 25TH

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

Jesus said: 'I am the Bread of Life . . .
whoever eats this Bread will always live.'
This is a tough teaching, too tough to swallow.

Jesus said: 'Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God
like a child shall not enter it.'
This is a tough teaching, too tough to hear.

Jesus said to all he met: 'Follow me.'
We have accepted Jesus, and seek to be faithful,
no matter how tough it is to follow him.

Prayers of Approach and Confession

Holy God,
Home of all who seek you:
may you find in our hearts paths to walk,
wandering with us through dark valleys,
dipping us in pools of living water,
lifting our faces to the grace
falling softly upon us.

Loving Lord,                                                                                                     

Speaker of tough words:
we would wish for an easy life
as we follow you to our Home.
Help us to see that when we mop floors,
we find our meaning;
when we hammer nails,
we discover our hope;
when we embrace the sick,
we touch our healing.
 
Spirit of Strength,
Bearer of our prayers,
we would ask for:
the strength to say 'yes'
when 'no' is on our lips;
the wisdom to welcome all
into our hearts;
the longing to be with you
always.

God, our sun and shield:

we may long to be in your house,

but our deeds show how tough it is for us to live there.

Called to follow, we search for paths to take us back to our old ways;

given the words of eternal life, we weakly proclaim the gospel to others;

offered the path of salvation to walk upon,

we stumble down the rocky roads of our world.
Forgive us, Guardian of our lives.

Strengthen us with your Spirit,                              

so we may serve your people with all that brings them life.                                   

Let your Word, Jesus Christ,

the One we have come to believe and know is our Lord and Saviour,

be confirmed in us in every word, every deed,                                       

every thought, every moment in the days to come.

Assurance of Pardon

Today, receive the Bread of Life;
today, hear the words of eternal hope;
today, trust in the One who hears your prayers,
and showers grace and forgiveness upon you.
Today, we are set free to serve God's people, and to sing God's praises.                 

Thanks be to God.

Amen.

The Lord`s Prayer

 

Prayers of Intercession

God our health and salvation, bless our prayers as we now pray for others.

Let the efficacy of prayer when blessed by Christ’s hands, stretch far beyond the limited range of our concern, and probe much deeper than our compassion can ever reach.

We pray for the lost and all who go searching for them, for the fallen and the merciful who give them a hand, the timid souls and those who speak up for them.

We pray for the nations and advisers who have influence with governments, for the different races and all who treasure the smallest and weakest, for those at war, and the peace-keepers who stay the bloodshed, and peacemakers who try to bring a just reconciliation.

We pray for the hungry millions and the agencies and donors who attempt to feed them, the homeless and those who house them, for refugees and each country that gives them a new start.

We pray for the handicapped and the therapists who encourage and enable them, the oppressed and those who empower them, the alcoholics and other drug addicts and each clinic or adviser that offers some respect and hope.

We pray for the diseased and the nurses who touch and tend them, the injured and the surgeons and carers who rehabilitate them, the mentally ill and each counsellor who patiently works for their well-being.

We pray for the dying and those who stay with them to the end, the sorrowing and pastors and loved ones who comfort them, for the inconsolable and those special friends who do not become impatient or expect a rapid recovery from grief.

 

We pray for the unemployed and those who recognise their despair, for the unemployable and all who understand their frustration, for those in sheltered workshops and the supervisors who encourage and affirm them.

 

We pray for the church in its many denominations and congregations, for its leaders and members who elect them, the pastors and those who train and pastor them, the new converts who may feel impatient with staid ways, and established members who forget what it is like to be new comers.

Loving God, our health and salvation, channel love through our praying,

and show us how to practice love in activity as well as in prayer. 

In the name of Christ Jesus.

Amen!

 

The Dismissal

Go now, to share God's strength.
Do so by embracing the weakness of others.

Go now, to be as alert as Jesus.
Do so by noticing the brokenness all around us.

Go now, to share the life of the Spirit.
Do so by receiving the bread of life from the poor.

 

The Grace

SUNDAY PRAYERS SEPTEMBER 1ST

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

In the midst of the world’s chaos

come to this place and find peace.

When your mind is overwhelmed with what you see

come to this place and find hope.

If your heart is heavy, with fear, with worry, with sorrow,

come to this place and find strength.

As you long for community in a world that is torn apart,

come to this place and find love.

Come people of God,

and in this place, in this moment,

find peace, hope, strength and love,

as we worship and pray together.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for there is nothing deceitful or shadowy in you
and every good and perfect gift comes from your hand.

Your throne endures forever and ever,
and in your passion and desire
you conceived the entire universe.
You gave birth to us through the word of truth,
and gave us first place among your creatures.

Through your servant Moses your holy law was given,
and through your Son, Jesus,
it was cleansed of all that obscured its truth.
Though he was opposed and killed
by those who honoured you in word but denied you in deed,
you raised him from the grave,
bringing all the world back to life.
Now he seeks us out like an ardent lover
to restore in us a passion for righteousness
that brings forth purity and truth
in both word and in action.

God, revealed to us in the beauty of Christ,                                                         

we bring to you the story of our lives,                                                                 

some of it written in gold letters                                                                         

but much of it written in grey,                                                                             

and some in the red ink of shame.

Help us to cherish the golden times,                                                                   

and to reinforce our desire to serve you better                                               

by remembering those times of blessing with gratitude and pleasure.

Help us to face up to the grey and the red with ruthless self-honesty,                     

neither making excuses nor languishing in guilt                                                   

but repenting of our sins and accepting from you the saving grace                         

which totally forgives even the most ugly of our deeds or words.                           

O Saviour and Friend, please increase your restoration work in us,                         

so that more of the loveliness of Christ may shine through our daily lives.

Assurance of Pardon

Jesus Christ has delivered us by the Word of Truth,
setting us free from the judgment of the law
and planting his word within us,
to save us from all that would pollute us.                                                             

Brothers and sisters,
your sins are forgiven;
be at peace.                                                                                                     

Amen.

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

Lord God, Jesus said that he came to that we might life

and have it more abundantly.

We praise you and we thank you for his purpose in coming

and pray that we might indeed experience the fullness of the life

that he has promised.                                                                                         

Take from us, O Lord, all those things that get in the way of our relationship

with you, our pride and self-certainty, our doubt and our fear,                               

and all those things which come from our human nature

and blind us to the wonders of your presence                                                       

and the glory of what you are doing in our midst.

 

Lord, you know very well how our traditions and our understandings can

become instruments of judgement rather than instruments of your grace.             

We pray today O God for all those who have been hurt by our thoughtless

insistence that our particular way is the only right way.                                                            

Touch the hearts of those who have turned away from you                                   

because we have caused your light within us to grow dim,                                     

and brighten, we pray, our souls with your truth and your beauty.

 

Lord, we thank you for the refreshing wind of your Spirit, for how you

breath into us new life and new hope and lead us to new understandings.               

In you we find wholeness for both body and soul.                                                 

We pray now, O God, that this wholeness may not only not only grow within us 

but that it might enter into and transform

the lives of those whom we name before you at this time.                                                                                           

We lift them up, O Lord, and also we lift up those situations and individuals           

which you have placed upon our hearts this day.

We name them before you now in the silence of our own hearts and minds.

 

Silent Prayer 

We pray  all these things, O God,                                                                       

in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour,                                                 

our Brother and Friend.                                                                                     

Amen.

 

The Dismissal

Go out and be doers of the Word.
Cleanse your hearts of all that would pollute,
be quick to listen and learn,
welcome the Word that God implants in you,
and bring it to birth in acts of righteousness and compassion.

May God pour grace upon you and bless you forever.
May Christ Jesus reveal to you the truth of God’s ways.
May the Holy Spirit fill your life with passion and love.

 

The Grace

 

 

SUNDAY PRAYERS SEPTEMBER 8TH

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

Happy are those whose hope is in God,

maker of heaven and earth--

for God keeps faith forever!

God executes justice for the oppressed

and gives food for the hungry.

God sets the prisoners free

and opens the eyes of the blind.

God lifts up those who are bowed down.

God watches over the strangers

and upholds the orphan and the widow.

People of God, sing praise to the One who is your help—

for God keeps faith forever!

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

 

Blessed are those

who have the God of Israel as their helper,

whose hope is in the Most High – 

Creator of heaven and earth,

the sea, and all that is in them.

Thanks be to God who keeps every promise forever,

gives justice to the oppressed, and food to those who hunger.

 

Thanks be to God who frees the prisoners,

opens the eyes of the blind,

lifts the burdens of those bowed down,

watches over the refugee,

and upholds the orphan and widow.

 

Gracious God,
we come before you today
knowing that we often fall short of your call
to love one another well.

We allow ourselves to be blinded
by wealth and power.

We ignore those around us
who suffer injustice, poverty, and rejection.

We tune out the cries of the poor
and those on the edges of our communities.

As we seek your forgiveness, help us to see your great generosity,
hear your word of mercy,
and feel your great love
for we are in need your redemptive grace.
Strengthen us to reach out in service
to those who are in need.
Make us aware of those outside our own communities,
that we may see them as your precious children
and serve them in humility and joy.

May we continue to grow in grace
as we learn how to serve you
in the name of the great Servant,
even Jesus Christ.                                                                                             

Amen.

 

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

 

Prayers of Intercession

Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy upon us! 

So many days, we are like the blind beggar in Mark's gospel,

sitting on the side of the road hoping to hear the sounds of your coming.

We are like the Canaanite woman begging for the crumbs that fall from your table.

We are like the woman who was sick for so many years

who reached out to touch the hem of your garment.

Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy upon us!

Have mercy upon us when we cannot see how we will make it,

Have mercy upon us when we are sick and cannot get well,

Have mercy upon us when life hardens our hearts

and makes it difficult for us to love, to heal or to forgive,

Have mercy upon us when persecution comes and when we are misunderstood.

Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy upon us!                                   

We come, confident that your promise to be with us always is true,                       

confident that you are greater than the trials we face,                                           

confident that we are secure in the palm of your hands.                                       

We come to you today,                                                                                       

like blind Bartimaeus who sat on the side of the road to Jericho,                           

knowing that you love us and have not forgotten our needs.                                 

Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy upon us,
And grant us your peace.                                                                                   

Amen.

The Dismissal

As you have been fed, go to feed the hungry.

As you have been set free, go to set free the imprisoned.

As you have been received – give.

As you have heard – proclaim.

And the blessing of God be always with you.

 

The Grace

SUNDAY PRAYERS SEPTEMBER 15TH

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

HARVEST THANKSGIVING

Scripture Sentences

The land has yielded its harvest:                                                                         

God our God has blessed us. 

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.                                                           

Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice.

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

Father in heaven all good gifts come from you.                                                     

You send the sunshine and the rain,                                                                     

and it is through your love and care that we enjoy the harvest time.                   

Thank you for providing so richly for our needs and help us to share the good things we have with those who have little or nothing.                                         

The earth is Yours, and everything in it, the world and all that lives in it.               

All the animals of the forest are Yours                                                                 

and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.                                                         

You  make grass grow for the cattle and plants for us to cultivate.                     

You bring forth food from the earth, wine that gladdens our hearts, oil to make our faces shine, bread that sustains our hearts.                                                         

You make springs pour water into the valleys;                                                     

it flows between the mountains.                                                                         

The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.                 

For all who cooperate and collaborate with You to bring food to our tables, for farmers, growers, packers and processors, for breeders, stock people, shepherds and dairy-farmers, for distributors, hauliers, retailers and stallholders,                   

for chefs, cooks and creative entrepreneurs, we give thanks.

We confess our forgetfulness, our failure to give thanks                                   

and the ways in which we have wasted the gifts of creation.                                 

We confess to you our lack of care for the world you have given us.                     

We confess to you our selfishness                                                                       

in not sharing the earth's bounty fairly.                                                           

We confess to you our failure to protect resources for others.                               

May God show us his mercy, restore us in his likeness                                           

and give us generous hearts and lives.                                                                 

Amen.

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

God, the beginning and the end of all things                                                         

in your providence and care you watch unceasingly over all creation;                     

We offer our prayers that in us and in all your people your will may be done, according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We pray for all through whom we receive substance and life;                                 

for all farming families who work so hard, often in adverse conditions,                 

to provide our food and look after our countryside; for packers, processors, distributors and retailers.

We pray for young people in farming, for Young Farmers Clubs, for those studying at agricultural colleges and for the next generation of farmers as they bring new skills, energy and vision to the care of the countryside                                         

and the production of food in sustainable ways.

We pray for farmers and their families who are under stress as they face uncertainty and unpredictability in global food markets, and who struggle with increasing regulation and requirements; for those who want to leave farming or retire, especially those who are tenants, but do have the wherewithal to do so;       

for those who find it hard to see a way forward.

For rural charities, especially for the work of The Farming Community Network, as they work together to alleviate stress and support farming families; for FCN volunteers who walk with farming families as friends and companions, that they may do so with integrity, insight and understanding.

We pray for a just and fair relationship between the farmer and the retailer; for researchers and academics, for food writers and political commentators, for government officials and all those involved in shaping public policies and attitudes to food production and consumption; for the reduction in food waste and a new valuing and honouring of the fruits of the earth.

We pray for governments and aid agencies and those areas of the world where there is disaster, drought and starvation; for all involved in agricultural research who face the challenge to produce more food for a growing world, without harming the environment; and grant us all generous hearts in the face of immediate crises.

We offer ourselves to your service, asking that by the Spirit at work in us others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace Lord of all life.                       

God of grace as you are ever at work in your creation, so fulfil your wise and loving purpose in us and in all for who we pray, that with them and in all that you have made,  your glory may be revealed and the whole earth give praise to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.                                                                             

Amen.

 

Harvest Dismissal (with actions)

 

We have celebrated Harvest,                                                                               

brought our gifts,                                                                                               

sung our hymns and remembered our God.                                                         

As we go into the world,                                                                                     

May God help us to live our lives as people of the harvest                                 

To share and to give,                                                                                         

to bless and to love                                                                                           

through Jesus, our Friend and Saviour.

 

May God’s joy be in our hearts [place hand on heart]                                           

May God’s peace be in our world [sweep hand out in front]                               

May God’s love be known between us [hold hands or touch palms]

 

The Grace

SUNDAY PRAYERS SEPTEMBER 22ND

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

We come here today not because we are clever

but because God welcomes the slow learners.

We come here not because we are wise,

but because God loves us in spite of our folly.

We come knowing that the greatest persons will be found

among those who humbly serve like Jesus did,

and that the brightest ideas and the deepest truth will come

from those who see themselves as little children in Christ’s school.

 

O Lord, open up our mind and our hearts

and enable our lives to declare your praise.

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

 

With joy and delight we gather to praise you, our Holy God!
With reverence and awe, we approach You, our Gracious God.
We give thanks that You understand us, and do not
want us to be that which we were never created to become!

Creating God, you call us to worship you as your children,
made in your image, with a divine spark within each of us.
We give thanks that You understand us, and encourage
us to grow in our knowledge of Your awesome holiness.

Glorious God, you invite us to sink our roots deep into your love
and holiness, and to grow stronger each day in our faith in you.
We give thanks that You understand us, and that the fruits
we bear are consistent with what You created us to become.
We gather to worship and praise You, our supporting and caring God.

 

 

Lord Jesus Christ, there are times when we all feel like victims—

pawns in the powerplays which are so much a part of life these days.

As usual, however, you look into our hearts

and question what part we play in these power games.  

We know that in your eyes it is not social status,

or wealth or reputation that count, 

and we confess how easily our lives can become enmeshed

in such worldly values. 

You risked personal comfort and security

when you reached out to those on the edge of your society, 

lepers and sinners—people whom others considered unclean.
Forgive us when we fail to meet your challenge

to identify with those whom society would call worthless.

You showed us that the journey of discipleship

is a journey into servanthood and powerlessness.
Forgive us for being tempted to pursue power

and to favour competition over compassion. 

You, Lord, saw the good in everyone

and showed us exactly what it means to be the servant of all,
while too often we see others as rivals

in the race for success, influence and popularity.

“Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”
Imprint these words on our hearts

and put your living Spirit within us, we pray,

so that we serve others and you

with wisdom, understanding, love and compassion.

Amen.

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

Prayers of Intercession

 

O God of wisdom,

As our children are headed back to school and college to learn anew, help us pass on to them the wisdom that has been given down to us from the generations before us.

Help our children as they learn their daily lessons to listen and learn.

Help their teachers have the patience and knowledge to teach well.

Help them as they learn life’s lessons of dealing with other people around them.

Help us as we guide them through those lessons.

We ask for your wisdom to discern your ways and path for our own lives.

We ask for your wisdom to discern how to deal with others we meet, live with, work with,

shop with, drive our roads, with, wait in line with,                                                         

eat with and be with daily.

We ask for your wisdom in the difficult situations we may have to deal with                     

as we go through life.

We ask for your wisdom in dealing with injustices in our world.

We ask for wisdom for our leaders in our world, our countries                                       

and our communities.

We ask for wisdom for our church leaders, worldwide and local.

We ask for wisdom for our Pastors as they preach your word, inspire,                             

lead and grow us as disciples.

We ask for your wisdom as we reach out to those in need in our communities               

and in our world.

We ask for wisdom as we minister to those who are homebound                                     

and in nursing homes.

We ask for your wisdom as we minister to those in hospitals,                                         

in recovery and rehab.

We ask for your wisdom that not only enlightens us                                                       

but transforms us and guides us in our daily walk with you.  

Amen

 

The Dismissal

 

May the holy wisdom of God
Guard your ways and guide your paths
May the living truth of God
Enlighten your hearts and open your minds
And may the living Spirit of God
Give you life and life to the full!

 

The Grace

 

SUNDAY PRAYERS SEPTEMBER 29TH

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship (inspired by Psalm 124 and James 5)

If it had not been God who was on our side,
the troubles of our world would have swallowed us whole.
If it had not been God who was on our side,
the sorrows of our times would have swept us away.

Are any among us suffering?
Come and pray.
Are any among us cheerful?
Come sing songs of praise.
Are any among us sick?
Come and ask for healing.

Our help is in our God,
the One who made heaven and earth.
Call upon God, creator and rescuer.
God is on our side.

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

 

We gather to offer You praise and worship, our Faithful God,
because our help and hope rests always in You.
We bring our praises and thankful responses to You, our Saving God.

Blessed be You, Lord our God, our security and home,
and whose mercy and grace frees us from all that traps us.
Blessing, honour and glory be to You our Lord and God.

We come to offer You praise and worship, our all-Powerful God,
because we are confident of Your generous care for us.
Our eternal trust is in Your name O Lord our God,
for You are our Maker, our Saviour, and our timeless Home. 

 

Merciful God,

You call us to be salt of the earth and light of the world.

We confess that our witness is often bland and gloomy.

Forgive us when we fail to be an influence for good,

and when we condone or do what is wrong in Your sight.

Help us to flavour the earth with righteousness

and to reflect the light of Your love in a dark world;

through Jesus Christ, the Light of the world.                                                                                           

Amen.

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

Prayers of Intercession

Father of Lights, from whom comes every perfect gift,

hear our prayers which we offer fervently to you,

and in the name of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

 

We pray for the church,

that we might show forth our faith in action,

regard all with impartiality,

and be quick to listen and slow to anger.

We pray for our nation,

that whenever trials may befall us,

that God may grant us endurance and wisdom.

 

We pray for the world,

that the lowly may be raised up,

and that mercy may fall on us all.

 

 

We pray for the sick, the injured, the vulnerable,

and those undergoing all forms of adversity,

that they might all be raised up; especially those whom we name now.

We pray for those celebrating this week, especially those whom we name now.

We pray for the  bereaved, especially those whom we name now,

that they would draw near to God, and that God would draw near to them.

Gracious God,

let our prayers be offered to You

with the gentleness that is born from Your wisdom from above,

that is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, and full of mercy.                         

Amen.

 

The Dismissal

 

Go in peace to enjoy and employ your gift of faith.

Your help is in the name of God who made heaven and earth.

Fear neither outward foe nor inner temptation.

Your help is in the name of God who made heaven and earth

Rejoice in your blessings and smile in your adversities.

Your help is in the name of God who made heaven and earth.

 

The inexhaustible grace of Christ crucified,

the tireless, eternal love of God,

and the live-in Guest who fills household of faith with many gifts,

will be with you this day and for evermore.

 

The Grace

SUNDAY PRAYERS OCTOBER 6TH                                                                                  NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

 

Call to Worship

The spirit of God calls us from many places;
some of us come from busy homes with many people
some of us live alone.
We are a part of the family.

This week has been different for each of us;
some of us have had happy news we want to celebrate
some of us have faced grief and need to cry.
We are members of God’s family.

Yet we all come to this same place;
all of us seeking God’s presence in our lives
all of us seeking God’s presence with each other.
Together we become God’s family.

Let us worship together.

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

We praise you, O God,

for breaking through to us in the person of Jesus, your Son, our Lord. 

When the words of the prophets went unheard

and when their actions were ignored,

you spoke the creative word once more. 

Bringing order out of chaos again—

this time not to bring a world into being, 

but to bring your very being into the world.

The essence of your love taking on our flesh.

In the midst of this congregation, we praise you.
With our lives, we worship you.

Gracious God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer,
to you be all glory and honour, now and forever.

O Jesus,
You are the King of Glory,
You are the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings.
And we pray that your Kingdom will reign forever

in our hearts and in this world. 

Lord, we pray for your Kingdom to come here now,
bringing a kingdom of justice, righteousness, hope, love,
peace, mercy and grace for all.
Lord, we ask that you rule in our hearts,
lead in this world and govern over your kingdom.

But Lord honestly,
We often have our own plans and agendas
And we want to be rulers of our world.
Forgive us for those times.
And Lord we live in a time that would rather idolize the King of Pop
than worship you.
Help us to know how to live as your Kingdom People in these times.
And Lord , there are a lot of Kings in this world who terrorize, over tax, humiliate,
over exploit, and abuse those they are to lead.
Help us to spread the good news of the different kind of King you are.

Lord, thank you for being a different kind of King.
Thank you for your goodness and kindness in our lives.
Thank you for your generosity.
Thank you for loving us. Thankyou for forgiving us.
Thank you for that your Kingdom that is unlike any
Kingdom in this world and for enabling us, by grace,                                                     

to be citizens of it.                                      

Amen.

 

 

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

God our Father, in whose eyes all life is precious,

help us to value the worth of every individual,

whom you have created in your image.

 

We pray for victims of violence or hatred,

especially people who have suffered innocently.

May they find the healing of body, mind or spirit which they need.

 

We ask that the causes of division and hatred may be brought down.

Where there is prejudice because of colour, language, religion or culture,

help us to see things through the eyes of others,

and act towards them as we would like to be treated ourselves.

 

We also pray for people who have been the cause of hurts to others.

Enable them not only to admit their mistakes,

but also to use their time and energy for the benefit of others

and the welfare of society.

 

We pray for family relationships in our society.

Thank you for those who are our own families,

or who have been like family to us.

Bless them with the love in return which they themselves have shown.

 

We ask for your healing and reconciling love

in family disputes or misunderstandings.

We especially pray for children and young people

caught up in problems not of their making,

and for the anxiety and tensions this may cause.

Give them good friends and wise counsellors,

and support from their peer group and schools.

 

Loving God,

as we have promised you our devoted service in words and prayer,

give us the strength of your Holy Spirit

to enable us to keep our promises,

for you are the source of our lives and our strength.

 

The Dismissal (From a Celtic prayer)

 

May God bless the world in which you move,

and bless your home and bless your friends.

May God bless the eyes with which you see,

and bless the ears with which you listen.

May God bless the way you use your hands,

bless the way you employ your tongues. 

 

The Grace

 

SUNDAY PRAYERS OCTOBER 13TH

TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 90.12)

 

The psalmist asks God, ‘teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart’.         

As we gather for worship, we ask for God’s help to count our days;

days of gladness when we have offered our praise to God,

days of sorrow when we have taken comfort from God’s compassion for us,

days of uncertainty when we have placed our trust in God’s guiding hand,

days of hope when we have looked to our God who makes all things new.

For each of these days we bring our thanks,

knowing and trusting that God has been with us.

As we worship, we celebrate that God is with us each and every day.                             

God is with us now. 

 

 

Prayers of Approach and Confession

 

Gracious God, new every morning is your love for us. 

In our waking and rising we are gifted a new day

to experience and share that love with those we meet.                         

Help us to look at each day with fresh eyes

which are eager to see the intricacy of your creation,

eager to discern the image of the divine in person we meet,                         

eager to acknowledge the action of the Spirit                                                               

in simple acts of kindness shared between people. 

 

Your love is all embracing, creating and compassionate God. 

It is gentle yet strong, it is comforting and brings us reassurance but sometimes your love is difficult too, for you speak words of challenge, uncovering those things we do not want to hear. You call us to account when we fail to love you and our neighbour, you call us to account when in our carelessness we use words which harm or belittle, you call us to account when we place ourselves at the centre of our world and forget our connectedness with others.

 

We recognise our failings and our need to be forgiven by you and those whom we have failed. In your reconciling love you welcome us within your household and give us the opportunity to continue upon the journey of faith, each day trusting in your love and presence with us and for this we bring our thanks.                                 

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,                                                                                      Amen.

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

 

Prayers of Intercession (based on Prayers from Church Action on Poverty)

God who is just, in a world where it seems that  the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, we know that your way of doing things is not being fulfilled.

Renew us, inspire us, teach us how to live out our calling.                                                                  

We pray for those laid low by greed lift them before you.                                               

We will fill the hungry with good things                                                                         

and help those with money and resources to use them for the good of all.

 

In a world where tax havens are seen as legitimate and where millions go hungry,

we long to build communities where resources are shared.                                                  Help us make sure that our churches and projects are places

that empower and build up resistance to oppression.                                                   

Help those with money and gifts to share, use them wisely and generously.

 

If our church services and our prayers are not about bringing good news to the poor,

then let us repent and start over.

Jesus begins his ministry with the call to bring joy and freedom

to those who need it most.                                                                                         

Let our faith and our churches be led by that same spirit.

 

God of compassion, may those who have gone without

know what your way of doing things should be like.                                                                                               

Let those who have suffered guide our worship and our discipleship.                         

Let those who are refugees teach us about welcome.                                                     

Let those who are homeless teach us about generosity.                                               

Let children teach us about hope and joy.                                                                     

Let those who have been imprisoned teach us about being free.                                     

Let us turn this world’s expectations upside down.

Let us learn not to judge others, but to love them as they are.                                       

Let us learn not to condemn others but to embrace them.

Let us learn to forgive, and forgive again,

so we may be free from the wounds of vengeance and anger.

 

God who makes all things new,  you teach us to share,

to love, to reach out to those in need and to be alongside the vulnerable.

You teach us to be sacrificial, believing that even if the journey is hard

and brings death to old customs, there will always be new life in you.                                      Amen

 

The Dismissal

 

May God bless you with courage to turn from the riches the world values,                       

trust to choose God’s economy over the world’s economy                                             

and opportunities to discover God’s abundance                                                             

over and over and over again.                                                                                      Amen.

 

The Grace

SUNDAY PRAYERS OCTOBER 20TH

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

 

We come here today not because we are clever

but because God welcomes the slow learners.

We come here not because we are wise,

but because God loves us in spite of our folly.

We come knowing that the greatest persons will be found

among those who humbly serve like Jesus did,

and that the brightest ideas and the deepest truth will come

from those who see themselves as little children in Christ’s school.

O Lord, open up our mind and our hearts

and enable our lives to declare your praise.

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

 

Though you are God,

with all the influence and status that the name implies,

you refused to pull rank,

and parade your power among us.

 

Instead, you chose to step down into our experience,

living among us, as one of us,

with all the struggle and suffering

that goes with being human.

 

More than that, you adopted the role of slave,

washing feet, serving people of no reputation or social standing,

and giving of yourself completely.

 

As incredible as it sounds,

you are the God who serves,

and we can respond in no other way

than to give ourselves to you in praise.

 

Almighty God,

we have sought recognition and honour,

fame and wealth, the successes of the world,

over loving our neighbours

and serving those in need around us.

 

We would rather win the lottery and live comfortably

than find new ways of sharing what we already have

with the hungry and homeless.

 

We would rather live in safety and security

than seek justice for the oppressed and marginalized.

 

Forgive us for our selfishness

and turn us to the needs of those around us.

 

May we remember that we are all part of Your body,

we are all Your children.

 

May we remember that Jesus calls us to serve others,

and that instead of worldly recognition and riches,

he went to the cross.

 

May we seek forgiveness for our selfish ways,

at the same time forgiving ourselves

for not being perfect and not being able to do it all,

and may we strive simply to do what we can,

to participate in Your reign on earth as it is in heaven.                        

Amen. 

 

The Lord`s Prayer

 

Prayers of Intercession

 

In a world where many would seek to damage your creation, bring hatred to your people,

show violence to your children, help us always to be grateful for the gifts of love and life,

for the glimpses of transforming beauty and unending wonder.

Take us now and use us well to combat evil and destruction wherever we find it.

In world driven by greed and a lust for power;

where the material threatens to overwhelm the spiritual;

where goodness seems too frail in the face of badness,

help us not to give up on righteousness and truth;

to believe that you can use well the gifts we offer;

that you will call forth the gifts of your people again and again.

 

In a world where people are broken at the hands of humanity

and by the vagaries of nature, help us to trust the healing of your blessing and love, placed even now in the hands of those who seek to face down injustice

and champion human rights;

who stand in the dark places with your light held high;

who give of themselves for the sake of others.

 

In a world where we struggle to understand pain and suffering,

and, most especially, in the lives of those we love,

we bring before you those for whom we weep;

those we embrace in our hearts;

those to who we reach out in the yearnings of our prayers.

 

In a world where we can feel so insignificant and helpless,

help us to know you have a place for us;

lift our spirits when we don’t feel good enough;

fit us into your plan in amazing ways.

 

In a world where so much is focused on the here and now,

help us to remain bound with those who have gone before us;

to rejoice in our fellowship in the one kingdom of your love;

to give thanks that, from time to time, we have a glimpse of eternity.             

Amen.

 

The Dismissal

 

Go in peace, love and care for one another in Christ's name,

Go in the confidence of people who have found mercy through him,

keeping the commandments and letting go                                                                   

of all that binds you to the ways of this world,

May God come close to you and keep you safe;

may Christ Jesus reward your faithfulness a hundredfold;

and may the Holy Spirit be your help in time of need.

both now and forevermore.

 

 

The Grace

PRAYERS FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 27TH

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Call to Worship

 

Take heart! For we are gathered in the Father’s presence

to proclaim the wonders of the Lord.

Get up!  For we are beckoned by the Risen Son

to respond to grace undeserved.

God is calling us!  For we are united by the Spirit

to follow Jesus on the way.

Come, let us worship God.

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession

 

Lord God, our Provider.

We worship you as the one who meets our needs,

who grants our daily bread,

who restores our humanity.

We worship you as the God who knows human need from experience,

who knows want, and thirst and humiliation.

 

And we worship you as your people,

in a world where wealth is mixed with poverty;

where we have all we need, but don’t know how to share.

Where want, and hunger and thirst and humiliation are hidden

from those with the power to offer challenge and bring change.

 

So, open our eyes.

Not only that we learn sad facts about the world.

But open the eyes of our heart,

that we may feel our place in this world, as your people.

Where there is need,

we thank you that you teach us to learn where our wealth lies and help us to give.

Where there is injustice,

we thank you that you teach us to learn the causes and help us to fight.

Where there is brokenness,

We thank you that you teach us to learn of our own brokenness                                     

and help us to bring wholeness.

We bring our paise and thanksgiving to you today,

the crucified God,

the risen God,

the God who provides.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, even in the midst of a large, probably noisy crowd,                             

you helped Bartimaeus move from blindness to sight                                                     

by focusing your power on his cries for mercy and healing.                                             

The crowd and the attempt by some to silence Bartimaeus

did not distract you from responding to the needs of this blind beggar.                           

This interruption to your journey provides an example

of the life you call your disciples to live.

The question, however, disturbs us—would we have been among those who called out for Bartimaeus to be quiet?                                                                            

When we find interruptions to our plans a source of irritation                                          rather than an opportunity for serving others in your name, 
forgive us, Lord.

Bartimaeus’ desperation and cry for mercy

is echoed in the lives of many people in our own communities and throughout the world. 

When we close our ears and our hearts to these cries,                                                  remind us that following you means responding to those who cry for mercy, 
forgive us, Lord.

Immediately Bartimaeus regained his sight, he followed Jesus on the way.                     

The way to discipleship is entered when our eyes are graciously opened

to see and to follow Christ in faith.                                                                                When we find excuses to delay responding to your call to discipleship,
forgive us, Lord.

Jesus, Saviour and Lord, enlighten our minds with your wisdom,

and imprint the image of your love once more on our hearts

so that we can focus anew on your presence and your power

whenever and wherever you call us to serve people in your name. 

 

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.

He rescues them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;

he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.

The Lord will redeem those who serve him.

Everyone who trusts in him will be freely pardoned.

 

Hear then the good news

that in and through Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God! 

Amen.

 

The Lord`s Prayer

Prayers of Intercession

Loving God, while we gather here in this house of love,                                                 

there are others who gather at the site of road accidents, around hospital beds,             

in funeral parlours, and at scenes of violence and murder.

 

Please comfort your distressed children

and assist them to create something good out of their pain and grief.

 

Loving God, while we have comfortable homes to which to return,

there are others whose homes are destroyed by flood, fire, earthquake, terrorism, or war.

 

Please help your homeless children to triumph over such disasters and direct the efforts of those emergency personnel who rush to give assistance.

 

Loving God, while we have a wide range of foods to enjoy,

there are millions who barely exist, and millions more who are literally starving today.

 

Please strengthen those agencies that are attempting to bring food to the hungry

and guide programmes designed to improve methods of food production and distribution.

Loving God, while we have a choice of which church to go to, and practice our faith without hindrance, we know there some in other lands who continue to worship under the threat of social ostracism or physical persecution.

Please be in the midst of your persecuted children and hasten the day when no one of loves you need fear for their freedom or life.

 

Loving God, while most of us have family and friends to share our laughter and tears, they may be some among us today who feel alone and neglected.

 

Please God, be the close Friend of your lonely children and make the rest of us more sensitive and responsive to the needs of those who lack loving support.

 

God of the nations, Lover of each individual soul, we long for that day when human deprivation, abuse and pain will be no more.                                                               

Keep your church both faithful and loving, so that although that wonderful day

may seem a long way off, we may gladly use our ordinary lives to hasten its arrival.

 

To the praise of your name we pray: your kingdom come, your will be done on earth

as it is in heaven. Through Christ Jesus our joy and hope.

Amen

The Dismissal

 

With your lips and with your hearts:
bless God in every moment of your lives.
With your ears and with your hearts:
hear the cries of your sisters and brothers,
in every painful moment, in every broken place.
With every gift and with your hearts:
serve God and all of God's children,
with every moment of your lives.

 

The Grace