Prayer of Praise  

(from Psalm 1: 2a & 6a, 2: 7b and 4: 6b) 

  Almighty God we come together here today as your children, your precious possession.  You have called us to be in close fellowship with yourself, to show your love for us, to bless us with your kindness. 

  In you we depend for our daily sustenance and provision for our needs.

  By you we receive guidance for right living and protection from the attacks against us from Satan and his demons.

  Through you we have received forgiveness of our sins and our mistakes, a forgiveness that is complete and which lasts forever.

  Ever-loving God, we gather before you today to express our thankfulness for your work of regeneration in our lives, to express our thankfulness for your care and concern for us as individuals and for us as your Church, to praise you above all your Creation in Heaven and on Earth because you are majestic above all else, because your works are marvellous in our eyes, because you are magnanimous in revealing your grace and mercy to us.

  O Lord, our God, we offer you our worship in humbleness and gratitude, to your glory and honour.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession 

(from Psalm 5: 4, 5, 11b & 12, 7: 3 & 9a, 9: 4, 12, 13a & 18, 10: 7, and 15: 2b & 3b) 

Lord God, you are not a God who is pleased with wrongdoing,

You allow no evil in your presence.

Lord, you are a righteous God,

You correctly judge our thoughts and our desires.

Lord, if I have wronged anyone, or have offended a friend,

Have mercy, O God, and forgive my sin.

Lord, if I have been unfair or dishonest in my judgements,

Have mercy, O God, and forgive my sin.

Lord, if I have neglected the cry of those who suffer, or if I have neglected the plight of the needy,

Have mercy, O God, and forgive my sin.

Lord, if I have boasted of what I have done by my own abilities, but have not given you due thanks for your providence for me,

Have mercy, O God, and forgive my sin.

Lord, if my speech is filled with lies and hurtful words,

Have mercy, O God, and forgive my sin.

Lord, if my speech is filled with insincere words or is used to spread rumours among my neighbours,

Have mercy, O God, and forgive my sin.

Lord, You protect those who love you,

They are truly happy because of you.

Lord, you bless those who obey you,

They are joyful because of your love for them.

O Lord, we put our hope in your unending grace towards all people, everywhere.

In your mercy, forgive our sins and no longer remember our wrongdoings.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(1 John 1: 9) 

The Apostle John assures us that if we confess our sins to God, He will keep His promise, He will forgive us our sins and purify us from our wrongdoings.  Having confessed our sins to God, let us hold onto that promise and know that God has indeed forgiven us and cleansed us in His sight.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

We pray to you, Lord of palm-branches and the cross,

for you understand us and in love you have promised not to push away any who come to you.

We pray to you, Lord of palm-branches and the cross,

for you know the warm glow of being praised and the loneliness of being hated.

We pray to you, Lord of palm-branches and the cross,

because you know how quickly life changes to death.

We pray for people who feel pushed away: pushed away from a living faith in Jesus by pressure from friends and family;

those who feel pushed away by other people in churches if they do not share the same kinds of ideas, or ways, or clothes; for people who are pushed out by those who want

power, whose main love is to be noticed, and to have control.

We pray for your church that all those who trust in Jesus will be made able by your Spirit to follow his humility,

to see and to imitate his servant life, to welcome and not to condemn.  Help your church to be like Jesus.

We pray for World leaders, quick to stand in the limelight taking decisions which affect everyone in the world but slow at times to do the steady, less glamorous work to which they are called.

We pray for World leaders to understand their role to serve the peoples of the world, that posturing will be replaced by practical action to make a difference, and jockeying for position be replaced by genuine efforts to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and care for those who are weak.

In days when food banks are required in our land to feed families who struggle to provide the basics for life,

we ask that you will re-arrange our priorities and help us to live more like Jesus.

We pray for those who have recently lost those whom they have loved, 

in the shock, confusion, pain and sorrow especially of unexpected loss, we pray for hearts to be open to the comfort of your Spirit, shown through friendship and community.

We remember those we know who mourn in these days,

who need to be sure of that you invite those in sorrow to turn to you.

We pray for those who know it is Easter, but do not join in the celebration; for those who walk in the sunshine, but cannot feel the warmth; for those who see the flowers, but fail to appreciate their beauty.

We pray for all those in need of joy this day.

We pray for those who see the joy in others, but look away; for those who mourn what might have been; for those who spoil the good things in life.

We pray for all those in need of love this day.

We pray for those who long to step out into the daylight; for those who want release from their captivity.

We pray for all those in need of hope this day.

We pray that through our singing, our worship, our prayers, our attention, through the giving of our skills and time through the days of our lives, that all is given to your glory and for the good of many,

through Jesus who is the Saviour of all.  Amen.

written by Rev Grant Barclay and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.   http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/ –

Worship for Sunday 24th March 2024, by Rev. Sharon Read

We pray for the peoples of The Balkans – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.

We give thanks for the rich legacies that this area has long embodied, for those who kept both the people and their faith alive during years of repression, for those pursuing peace and reconciliation between the different ethnic and religious groups,  and for the resurgence of the ecumenical witness of churches in recent years.

We pray for a continual healing of historic memories and pains that have been mutually inflicted, for those who continue to experience marginalization and injustice, especially the Roma, for religion to be a means of healing rather than of further separation and exploitation, and for the nurturing and sustaining of pluralistic societies in the Balkans.

Prayers

Prayer before the proclamation of God’s word

Lord God, enlighten us through your word so that we can discover the needs of the people around us.
You are God, the Almighty, and we thank you that like a Father you protect us and through your divine mercy and love you create living space for us and for every single person.
We ask you especially to show mercy to our nation.  Enlighten us through your divine Spirit and create in the hearts of the people interest in your word.
And in this time of crisis and challenges give wisdom from above so that we stay true to your word so that we can respond to the different needs – in both the spiritual and physical aspects.
God, watch over us, because of the mercy and love of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

(Rev. Mihail Cekov)

Litany of unity

Let us ask God for the gift of unity:

God, our Father, who has created all things,
we are your children.
It is your will that we live together in peace
and stand by one another as sisters and brothers.
Your will be done.

Jesus Christ, Son of God,
you have prayed for the unity of all who are baptized in your name,
who believe in you and confess your name.
Is it your will, that the Church, your body, be one.
Your will be done.

Holy Spirit of God,
you have filled the Apostles with the fire of courage
to proclaim the Good News.
It is your will that we proclaim with one voice the great deeds of God
and the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Your will be done.

(Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 1986, Slovenia)

May we love you

Set our hearts on fire with love for you,
O Christ, our God,
that in its flame we may love you
with all our heart, with all our mind,
with all our soul and with all our strength,
and love our neighbours as ourselves,
so that by keeping your commandments
we may glorify you,
the giver of all good gifts.

(Mother Teresa, Macedonia, TPP,  p. 227.)

We pray for The Leprosy Mission Nigeria, as they strive for more success in their efforts toward achieving zero leprosy in Nigeria.  We pray for the continued success of their 2021–2025 Country Strategy, and its collaborative effort with State and Federal authorities to reduce the burden of leprosy in Nigeria.  We pray God that you will provide the needed resources and networks for the successful implementation of the projects initiated under this strategy.  We pray that the persons and communities affected by leprosy and disabilities would be positively impacted and truly transformed to live life in all its fullness.

We pray for the TLM Nigeria Board members and the TLM Nigeria team, that they will be strengthened, and that grace will abound for them, so they can do even more than their capacity.  We pray for TLM Nigeria’s resource mobilisation team, that you will give them grace, wisdom, and favour as they continue to explore new partnerships and funding opportunities.

We pray Lord, that as TLM Nigeria’s staff and volunteers visit the communities, you will continue to protect them, and keep them safe from wicked and unreasonable people, given the recent security challenges.  Given that Nigeria is going through a great deal of economic distress, leading to an increased cost of living for everyone, we pray that you will give Nigeria’s leaders the wisdom to implement the right policies for the good of the people.

We give you praise God for the work of Scripture Union chaplains in numerous schools throughout Queensland, especially the work of Andy at Blackall, and Matty at his school.  We thank you  for the success of the GO Missions that were held in Far north Queensland over the summer holidays and the encouragement that it gave to the local churches.  We thank you for the movement of the holy spirit in the lives of several youths who attended the GENTS camp in South Australia in October.  We pray that you will continue to influence their lives as they return to homes an familiar surroundings.  We thank you God for the success of the recent Darwin Dance Outreach, the manner in which it was uniquely able to touch many lives for you.

We pray for that you will work in the lives of the High School children who will attend the Cave Camp at Chillagoe commencing on Monday, 8^th April, the Primary School children who will attend the Easter Adventure Camp at the QCCC Campsite at Mapleton commencing on Monday 8^th April, and the Primary School children who will attend the Shack Creative Art Camp to be held at Hope Community Baptist Church commencing on Tuesday 9^th April.  We pray that you will guide and support the leaders and helpers, and that you will keep everyone associated with these camps healthy.

(from SU Australia News Qld Edition  for March to May 2024)

We pray for the Bangladesh Bible Society who are teaching a literacy course for non-literate women in rural areas.  We pray for the first-year students who struggle to read and write, that you may give them wisdom to learn, and for protection and provision for participants who also strive for food, shelter and health.

We thank you God for your faithfulness as Koorong served the Australian Christian landscape over the Easter period, resourcing Christians and non-Christians alike with Bibles, church supplies, and evangelistic and apologetic resources.  We pray that these resources would be lifechanging and sow seeds of faith.

We pray for the new Mongolian translation of the Bible, which will be easier to understand for readers and listeners.  We pray for the team, for effective training in biblical language, linguistics and Bible translation, and as they work to review the draft translations of the New Testament.  We pray for unity among translators, churches, committee members and the Mongolian Bible Society.

We pray for communities devastated by the QLD fires in 2023, the recent drought in WA and flooding in the NT.  We pray that you will help people struggling to come to terms with loss of life and property.  Please bless the disaster recovery chaplains as they distribute the scriptures and gospel resources that Bible Society Australia sent up to Chinchilla.  We pray for wisdom and energy to reach out to these distraught people.

We thank you God for Gina*, a 45-year-old wife and mother who was able to learn about Jesus through the literacy program in Bangladesh: “Before attending this class I could not read any book … I desired to read and write but I did not have the opportunity to do so. Even I did not know Bible stories. I was so curious to know about Jesus Christ, and my desire has been fulfilled after attending this literacy class.”

(Bible%20Society%20Prayer%20Letter%20April%202024.pdf)

We pray for all who are questioning their faith or your presence in their lives: that the Holy Spirit will guide them to new insights and help them recognize your presence through the witness of Christian’s love and service.

We pray for a renewal of our faith communities: that, like the early church, we may see the needs of others as our needs and open our hearts and resources to assist them.

We pray that you will enrich our faith so that we may be victors over the lies, illusions, and false promises that secular culture promotes.

We pray for all who are in need, particularly those who suffer violence, are recovering from natural disasters or lack resources for daily living, that you will give them strength, help them to trust, and move the hearts of many to assist them

We pray for healing, that the Spirit will renew the gift of life in all who are sick, discouraged, struggling with addictions or weakness that comes with aging.

We pray for an end to violence, that Christ’s victory over death will turn hearts from violence and revenge and help us to respect the value and dignity of each human life.

We pray for peace, that the Spirit will open dialogue and new understanding amongst nations, communities, and families who are in conflict.

https://liturgy.slu.edu/2EasterB040724/ideas_other.html – Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.

We pray for those who undertake Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School in the coming weeks.  Guide them in their preparation for the words to say and the approach to take with the children in their classes. 

We pray for Kylie Conomos, the Scripture Union Chaplain at Bald Hills State School, as she addresses the concerns and needs of children, parents and teachers at the Bald Hills State School.

Lord God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your lovingkindness.  To your glory we pray.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

now and forever.  Amen.