Prayer of Praise    

You, loving God, are the ground of our being and the river of life; you both steady our roots and draw them to seek the living waters.

You are like the sunlight enticing us taller and like the breeze rustling our leaves. You are with us through hard seasons of summer heat, and in the nights when winter’s frost ice the landscape your love warms and sustains us. You are everything to us.

O let our gratitude be great, let our praise be plentiful, let our worship be wonder-full! Through Christ Jesus your ever-living Son.

 Amen!

Prayer of Confession 

(Responsive)

God of grace and God of glory, in your glory may we find grace, and in your grace may we find your glory.

Shed your light around us and within us, that the shabby things we do and the shabby things that inhabit the dark recesses of our minds, may be revealed for what they are.

Please do not allow us to hide from the unpalatable truth, or having glimpsed the truth, do not permit us to cover up our tardy response with vain self-justifications.

Mercifully confront us, expose, judge and reclaim us from all evil. Forgive both our sins and our excuses.

Help us, wherever it is possible, to humbly apologise and make restitution to those whom we have wronged.

Let your grace abound in our lives, enabling us to merciful towards any who have wronged us, and supportive of those who have failed badly and seek a new start.

In the name of Christ Jesus our Saviour, we ask this.

Amen!

Assurance of Forgiveness   

“This is the testimony of God: That God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. They who have the Son of God have life.”

Receive the grace of God’s Son and begin anew, no longer dragging your feet for shame.

Our sins are forgiven.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

We have been invited to live the divine call to love God and our neighbour as ourselves. As we renew our commitment to this call, may this love strengthen our unity as Christians.

With all our hearts, we desire to dwell in God’s love and to have the grace to love our neighbour as ourselves.

God of boundless love, we pray that all people may come to know your unlimited mercy and believe in your desire to fill us with your infinite love.

Fill us with your love! Make us one in you.

We join our prayers to that of Jesus, who prayed for the unity of all who follow him.  God of communion, we pray that we may work together for your greater glory and spread the Good News of salvation for all.

Fill us with your love! Make us one in you.

Our hearts are broken because of the confusion and division in our world.

God, our healer, we who are scattered like sheep without a shepherd, ask you to gather us into one fold. Enliven us by your Spirit and send us again, two by two, to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

Fill us with your love! Make us one in you.

Our world is scarred by terror and violence. Millions are forced to leave their homes in search of refuge and safety.  God of welcome, grant us the grace to risk embracing the stranger, tending their wounds and standing in solidarity with them. Strengthen our resolve to be kind and merciful and to act towards our sisters and brothers at all times as you do towards us.

Fill us with your love! Make us one in you.

In our weakness and fear we know that we often pass by on the other side, turning away from those who need our help.  God of power, despite our lack of charity, open our hearts to experience the length, width, height and depth of your love, so that we may love you more and love our neighbour as ourselves.

Fill us with your love! Make us one in you.

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.