Prayer of Praise: – 

(Psalm 150 [New International Version]) 

Praise the Lord.

Praise God in His sanctuary;

praise Him in His mighty Heavens.

Praise Him for His acts of power;

praise Him for His surpassing greatness.

Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet,

praise Him with the harp and lyre,

praise Him with timbrel and dancing,

praise Him with the strings and pipe,

praise Him with the clash of cymbals,

praise Him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession   

God our Father, we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed,

we have not loved you with all our heart; we have not loved others as we love ourselves.

God of Eternity, before you generations fall and rise,

may you have mercy upon our foolishness and carelessness.

Jesus Christ, we ask you to have mercy on us.

Holy Spirit cleanse us from all of our sins and help us to overcome all of our faults.

We hold before you those who have been wronged, or insulted, or offended, but who have not brought their pain and laid it at your feet, and who cannot or will not forgive.  Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

We hold before you those who use the young and the old to wreak havoc and commit unthinkable crimes under the banner of restoring national pride or of upholding racial or religious purity, those in a broken World who are consumed by words and deeds of hatred and revenge.  Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

We hold before you those who provide the material means for promoting and prolonging armed conflict within and between Nations, for oppressing and supressing other peoples, those who value wealth and power above your call to work towards peace and mutual benefit for all.  Christ. Have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

We hold before you ourselves, when we have done nothing about the wrong that exists all around us, when we recall those who have not forgiven us.  Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

We repent of all that we have done that is not in line with your Will and Purpose for Humanity, and all that we have not learnt from the past.

We hope for grace to know ourselves forgiven, and to offer forgiveness to others.

Almighty God, who promised that all who turn to you in faith will know forgiveness,

set us free and pardon us from all of our sins.  Strengthen us to do your will and to work towards the coming of your Kingdom.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

ANZAC Centenary Resources Word copy (uca.org.au)

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(1 John 1: 7 & 9, Revelation 1: 7) 

The Apostle John assures us that our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, loves us, and, by His sacrificial death, has freed us from our sins.  Having confessed our sins before God, we can be confident then that God has heard our prayers, that God has forgiven our sins, and that God has cleansed our lives of all that is impure and corrupt.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

Almighty God, we bring to you our thanks today for the peace and security that we enjoy, which was won for us through the courage and devotion of those who gave their service and their lives in time of war. 

Make us good stewards of the freedom that they won.  We pray that their labour and sacrifice may not be in vain, but that their spirit of sacrifice and giving may live on in us and in generations to come. 

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for all who suffer from the effects of war; the loss of home or livelihood, the loss of friends and loved ones, the loss of happiness or security, those crippled or maimed in body as well as in mind and spirit, those who suffer nightmares that years of peace cannot erase.  

Comfort their hearts and grant them your peace and healing. 

We pray for those who are bitter about their loss and suffering, and who find it difficult to forgive those who have wronged them. 

Heal their hearts and uphold them in your grace. 

We pray for the homeless and the refugees; those who have been dispossessed, those families whose lives have been disrupted. 

Grant them the means to start anew, provide stability for them with new homes and new communities and new jobs. 

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, in whose hands are the destinies of this and every Nation, we pray for justice for those who have been wronged by the violent actions of armed forces, for those who have suffered loss and have experienced oppression at the hands of other peoples and Nations intent on undertaking violent armed acts of hatred over racial, tribal or ethnic differences, or for personal glory or political gain, or out of envy or greed, or who make war in revenge for long-held grievances. 

Convict the minds and consciences of those who instigate and prolong wars and armed conflicts of the error of their choices and their acts. 

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for all who serve in the defence forces of this Land.  

Give them courage and comfort in danger, patience in waiting, and discipline in the just use of force, so as to counter acts of hatred and oppression upon the innocent and defenceless. 

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

In this troubled World we pray for peace.  May we be inspired by the determination of those who have served in the fight for freedom, justice and peace. 

Give your Spirit of peace to all people and remove from them the spirit that makes for war, that all may live as members of your family. 

Prosper the work of those who preserve Human rights, promote the pursuit of those who work for reconciliation and justice, and direct us into the ways of understanding, reconciliation, and respect.  

May we learn to break down fear and ignorance, and to build up cooperation and harmony amongst peoples everywhere. 

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for aid agencies and their workers in conflict zones,

protect them from harm and bless their work among the needy. 

We pray for the members of peacekeeping forces working under the direction of The United Nations, seeking to bring enemies together for an end to wars, seeking to work to resolve conflict without violence,

protect them from harm and sustain their efforts towards promoting peace. 

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we remember with thanksgiving those who made the supreme sacrifice for us in time or war.  We pray that the offering of their lives may not have been in vain. 

Deliver us from the bonds of hatred against those who are hostile towards us, give us the strength to discard the power of revenge. 

Save us from valuing our national identity more highly than our shared Humanity. 

May your grace enable us this day to dedicate ourselves to the cause of justice, freedom and peace; and give us the wisdom and strength to build a better world, for the honour and glory of your Name. 

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Other prayers (These prayers were not included in the Church service)

Almighty God, we pray for the Church, that we may be transformed through our encounters with the living Christ and be instruments of healing and forgiveness for those who are hurting.

We pray for a deepening of faith, that we may grow in our awareness that death has been overcome and that in Christ we shall live forever.

We pray for the gift of wisdom, that you will show us how our gifts can alleviate the needs of our communities and help us to use them to serve and build up one another.

We pray that we may be instruments through whom others encounter Christ and give witness to Christ’s presence by our words and deeds.

We pray for the grace to forgive, that your Spirit will help us to forgive as you have forgiven us and give us the strength to be instruments of forgiveness in our families & communities.

We pray for abiding Peace, that we may know Christ’s presence with us all along life’s journey and be sustained by the peace that Christ offers and that no one can take away.

We pray for renewal of our minds and hearts, that the Spirit will empower us to engage in prayer, participate more fully in community and share our resources more generously.

We pray that you will breathe the Spirit upon the chaos of our society and its financial and political structures so that the dignity of each person may blossom.

We pray for all who struggle with doubts and fear, that Christ may calm their fears, help someone to accompany them, and touch their hearts with peace.

We pray for all who must face death each day: that Christ, who once died but who now lives forever, will strengthen and renew their spirits.

We pray for a renewed stewardship of your Creation: that you will guide us to effectively care for Creation and preserve its beauty and resources for coming generations.

We pray for all who are suffering, that you will heal the sick, comfort the grieving, guide refugees to safety, and open resources to those who lack food and medicine.

We pray for peace in all the troubled areas of the World, particularly in Ukraine and Sudan and Myanmar, that Christ’s victory over death may bring an end to war, genocide, and inhumane treatment of people and help us to work together to end disease and malnutrition.

(Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use. – https://liturgy.slu.edu/2EasterC042725/ideas_other.html)

Almighty God, we pray for the peoples of Belarus, Moldova, Russia, and the Ukraine.

We give thanks for the distinctive icons, art, literature and music that have come from this area, for the faithful witness of churches under the reign of Communism, and their revitalization since then, after decades of official atheism, for all those who help to alleviate the suffering of people due to Russia’s war against Ukraine and who try to counteract and overcome divisions, and for those who work for democracy and openness in government.

We pray for guidance, as these Nations work to reconfigure political and economic structures, for compassion and integrity for all peoples in these Nations with such diverse ethnic histories, for those who suffer from alcoholism, HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and other life-threatening diseases, for the large numbers of people who now live in poverty and are unemployed, for those in Belarus and Ukraine who suffer from the continued effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and for those who struggle for democracy and truthfulness in the media.

Prayers

Merciful and Holy God! 

You let us know the heavenly joy of your eternal peace, 
which you give in Christ Jesus. 
We tasted the happiness of being with You, 
and saw Your great deeds in our lives. 
O, Lord, but the world remains sinful, wicked, and hostile to You.

We often suffer from helplessness,
because we cannot change the terrible reality in which we live. 
But we see You nearby and now,  You hear prayers and work miracles. 

Let the name of the Lord Jesus be proclaimed by us everywhere.
Let Your power act in us and through us. 
Let Your eternal Kingdom come. 

In the name of Jesus, our Savior.  Amen. 

(Rev. Dr. Dmytro Tsolin, Lviv, Ukraine, 12.04.2024)

Christ our God, sun of righteousness,
by your divine touch you gave light to the eyes of the blind man
who had been deprived of light since birth.

Enlighten also the eyes of our souls,
and make us sons and daughters of light so that we cry out to you in faith:
great and beyond words is your compassion towards us!

Loving Lord, glory to you!

(Vesper Hymn, Sunday of the Blind Man. In: Let us pray to the Lord, A collection of prayers from the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox traditions © 1996 WCC)

(https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/belarus-moldova-russia-ukraine)

Almighty God, we pray that this Easter would be a special season of encouragement and strength for believers in their commitment to following Jesus.  We pray that you would open doors for meaningful conversations about the hope we have in Jesus, and that our church services and outreach events point people to the victory of Christ’s resurrection.

We praise you God for the successful launch of the ADF Tri-Service Bible, and for the long-term relationship of support between Bible Society Australia and Australian Defence Force (ADF) chaplains.  We pray for these chaplains, that they may be strengthened and equipped as they provide spiritual guidance, comfort, and hope to our service members.  We pray that they would have wisdom, courage, and resilience as they minister in challenging circumstances. Pray that this new ADF Bible will be a source of strength, encouragement, and truth for all who receive it.

We pray for Bible Society Vietnam as their translation team complete the final stages of translation for the Old Testament for a Vietnamese ethnic minority group, completing the first full Bible for this marginalised community.  We pray for successful translation workshops, improved team skills, and for your protection and wisdom for both the Bible Society Vietnam and this translation team.

We thank you God that Bible Society Australia can partner with World Hope Ministries to provide Bibles to prisoners in South Africa.  We pray that more Bibles will be accessible, as the demand for Bibles through this ministry grows.  We pray for the prisoners who receive the Bibles after they graduate from the Bible Discipleship course, that they will experience your powerful word and may it contribute to their rehabilitation process and encourage them to live crime-free lives after serving their sentences.

This Anzac Day week, we pray for gratitude and remembrance as Australia honours those who served and sacrificed for the nation.  We ask that you bring comfort to veterans, their families, and those currently serving, and to guide the country in pursuing peace, justice, and unity.

We praise you God for the incredible transformation in Neo’s* life who lives in South Africa.  Neo is serving time in prison and is going through World Hope Ministries’ Bible Discipleship Course.  Neo testifies to the life-changing power of God.  He shares, “I started to love and have hope for tomorrow. I forgive myself and others I wronged. I have no more suicidal thoughts. I am a new person. I started to see the purpose of life and God’s plan for me. My burden is no longer with me — Jesus Christ took it all!”

(Bible%20Society%20Australia%20April%202025%20Prayer%20Letter.pdf)

Almighty God, we pray for Breakaway Camp in Western Australia, which is run for children at risk.  We pray that the campers are open to hearing about you.  We pray for a strong leadership team that is able to share their life and faith in a clear and warm manner.

We praise you God for the Celebrating Easter family mission in Rawson (VIC) over the long weekend.  We pray that all who attended will continue to consider the true meaning of

Easter and what God means to them.

We pray for Bre 25, a mission trip to join The River Conventions – a travelling indigenous-led mission to bring Christian community to remote towns in north-west NSW.  The team, students from the Central Coast, will run a children’s ministry program and engage with the convention attendees in Goodooga, Brewarrina and Lightning Ridge.

We remember and pray for all those who have served and are currently serving in conflict. God of mercy, send your Spirit of peace into our world and bring healing to many.

We pray for Amplify Hub teams across the country preparing for their local conference event on 2 August.  We pray that many will attend and be equipped to bring the Good News to their communities around Australia.

We pray for all the campers who attended the recent Liquorice-Allsorts Camp in WA for Years 4-6.  We pray that the friendships made will endure and that it will be the beginning and continuation of a journey towards faith.

(SU%20Prayer%20Guide%20April%20to%20June%202025.pdf)

Almighty God, each year, The Leprosy Mission’s teams across the World rely on the  international office to organise and facilitate global-level meetings.  These can be logistically challenging and so we pray for those in the team who must work around these challenges. These meetings are also a blessing, allowing them to meet with friends worldwide and so we give thanks as well.

This year, the Chair of TLM International, Colin Osborne, is stepping down after many long years of service to TLM in a variety of roles.  We give you thanks God for Colin’s work and pray for the search for a new Chair, that they might find the right person.

Safeguarding is an integral part of their work.  The office and Board have an important role to play in ensuring all the teams and those with whom they work are safe.  We pray for encouragement and good decision-making among the safeguarding teams.

Their work sometimes requires us to travel.  We pray for the safety of their colleagues when they travel and that they will always be mindful of the cost of our travel on the health of our planet.

They want persons affected by leprosy to be central to all of their work.  We pray that they will find appropriate ways to engage meaningfully with the leaders of Organisations of Persons Affected by Leprosy

We pray for good health and for guidance for Brent Morgan – International Director, for Jannine Ebenso – Head of Knowledge Management & Learning, for Gladstone Worthington – Head of Finance, for Clara Volpi – Head of Operations Support, for Jo-Anne Thomson – Head of Fundraising Development, and for Damaris Villanueva – Head of People & Safeguarding.

    (The%20Leprosy%20Mission%20Prayer%20Diary%202025.pdf)

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.