Prayer of Praise: –  

(from Psalm 30) 

Great and glorious God, only to you do I offer worship and praise.

I cry to you in times of need and you answer me.  I seek you in times of distress and you comfort me.

Loving God, to you I give unqualified and unbounded thanks.

I remember all the great and marvellous things that you have done in my life.

Holy God, I acknowledge those moments when you have chastened and corrected me,

when you showed your anger towards my failings and my wanderings.

Yet I remember a lifetime of experiencing your unfailing goodness towards me,

I rejoice because you have remained faithful to me even when I have not remained faithful to you.

Almighty God, when I was afraid of where life was heading you did not hide yourself from me,

you provided strength and security when I needed them most,

When I felt that there was no hope left and only darkness lay ahead of me,

you restored hope in my life and joy in my living.

I will not be silent; I will sing praise to you.

LORD, you are my God; I will give you thanks forever.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession   

Merciful God, we are conscious of our inadequacy before your holiness, and of our unworthiness to receive your unmerited favour towards us.

We are ashamed of our sins that have caused you despair and disgust.

Merciful God, we covert the things of this World, the transient security and illusionary happiness from possessing things and experiencing pleasures,

and do not savour the delights of being in your presence.  Forgive us.

Merciful God, we give credibility to the claims of the importance of belonging to race or clan, of holding onto status and privilege, or of particular social or political beliefs,

and, in doing do, deviate from our worship of you by putting our trust and hope in the gods of this Age.  Forgive us.

Merciful God, we give credence to the false promise that we can achieve goodness and greatness by our own efforts and abilities,

and, in doing so, begin to believe that we can become gods ourselves.  Forgive us.

Merciful God, we neglect the consequences of our words and our actions,

and grieve when we realise that we have hurt and upset others by what we do and say.  Forgive us.

Merciful God, we turn away from the despair and the hurt of the needy,

and neglect to show compassion to the very people who you sought to love.  Forgive us.

Merciful God, we turn away from your calling to serve you in the World,

and neglect our responsibility to bear witness to your plan for saving people from their sins, achieved through the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ.  Forgive us.

Merciful God, we are reminded of your lovingkindness and compassion to all who believe.

Release us from our guilt and give us peace of mind of sins forgiven and forgotten.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from 2 Corinthians 5: 19 & 21) 

  In writing to the Church in Corinth, Paul wrote:

“God made Christ who had no sin to be sin for us, so as to reconcile the World to Himself in Christ.  In doing so, God is not counting our sins against us.”

  Let us rest on this assurance that, by the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our sins have been forgiven and forgotten by God, and our souls cleansed in God’s sight.

Thanks be to God.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

God of creation, humbly we pray for all that you have created, now being misused and facing devastation because of the World’s greed and indifference.

Guide us, O God, that we may become renewed stewards of the Earth, with a renewed concern of the Earth so as to maintain its health and balance, and to ensure that it able to meet the needs of future generations.

God of justice, humbly we pray for the World, marked as it is by oppression and injustice.

Guide us, O God, as we pursue justice and equity, respond to the needs of the poor and the marginalised in our communities, and uphold the dignity of Humanity.

God of love and peace, humbly we pray for the World, threatened by division and wars.

Guide us, O God, as we pray and work for your love to reign within and among people.

God of mercy, humbly we pray for UnitingWorld and its partners in the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world.

Guide them so that they may follow your will and courageously carry out the mission that you have entrusted to them, amidst the challenges brought about by the changing times and adversities of today.

Empower us, O God, to continue in our mission with courage, compassion and unwavering dedication.

May our actions be a testament to Your love, and may they inspire others to join in the work of building a World filled with justice, peace and joy.

God of love, by your love we are united, by your love we find hope, and by your love we are renewed.

Amen.

(from Uniting World Sunday Liturgy 2024 – https://donate.unitingworld.org.au/sunday/sunday-resources)

Other Prayers (not included in the church service)

Almighty God, we pray for the Church: that empowered by the Holy Spirit, we may give convincing witness to the freeing and healing power of the Risen Christ.

We pray for growth in trust, that we may surrender our disappointments and failures to you so that we may be renewed and raised up for new opportunities.

We pray for the grace of awareness: that God will open our minds and hearts to recognize Christ in people, events, and experiences of daily life.

We pray for all who face suffering or persecution for being a Christian, that the Holy Spirit will strengthen them to give faithful witness to Christ and your love for all.

We pray for all who exercise ministry in the Church, that their actions may be rooted in love, service, and commitment to Christ as they assist fellow Christians in deepening their discipleship.

We pray for our families, that mealtimes spent together may be times of nourishment, healing, reconciliation, and encouragement of one another.

We pray for a spirit of openness and acceptance, that we may welcome the stranger and immigrant into our communities and help them to build a new life.

We pray for insight and courage, that we may bring the witness of the Gospel to the social and political issues of our day and that the Spirit will give us words to effectively communicate the truth.

We pray for Peace, that you will turn hearts from violence, open minds to the pain that it causes, and open new opportunities for dialogue and understanding.

(Copyright © 2022. Joe Milner. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use. – https://liturgy.slu.edu/3EasterC050425/ideas_other.html)

Almighty God, we pray for the peoples of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

We are thankful for the long history of Christianity in these lands Christians who have witnessed to their faith during long years of repression and persecution, for positive developments these Countries have undergone since the end of the Soviet era, and for those who pursue peace and reconciliation in the face of old suspicions and animosities.

We pray for  greater respect for the human rights of all the peoples living in these countries, for just changes for those living in situations of poverty and discrimination, for the healing of past wrongs and distorted memories of what has occurred, for a prophetic witness of the churches in relation to new challenges, and for the Georgian Orthodox Church, that it may rediscover a rich relationship with the family of churches worldwide.

Prayer at the Armenian Genocide Memorial

O triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

We cry to you, with deep pain in our hearts and souls for our Armenian brothers and sisters, children, adults, and elders that were persecuted, robbed, exiled and killed during the Armenian genocide.  They suffered because of their ethnic origin and because of their Christian faith, becoming victims of hate, intolerance, abuse and ethnic and religious purge.  As Christians that follow your commandments to forgive our debtors and to love our neighbours, we pray to You to offer peaceful rest to the souls of the victims and to heal the wounds of their descendants.  We are reminded of what Christ has said, “I am the Resurrection and I am the Life.  Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die”.

We pray for the recognition of this genocide by the descendants of those that initiated,

planned and committed it and for the establishment of the historical truth regarding the genocide, for You taught us that the truth will make us free.  We pray for peace and reconciliation between the descendants of the murderers and victims for You are the God of forgiveness.

God, you created us to be stewards of life and community.  Help the Armenian community to continue building their country in peace and contribute to the respect and confidence between peoples and nations.  AMEN.

© 2011 WCC

Prayer of Confession

You are not the accuser, but the liberator, not the destroyer, but the rescuer,
not the executioner, but the saviour, not the scatterer, but the gatherer,
not the traitor, but the deliverer.  You do not pull down, but lift up.
You do not knock down, but stand upright.  You do not curse, but bless.
You do not take revenge, but give grace.  You do not torment, but comfort.
You do not erase, but write.  You do not shake, but steady.
You do not trample, but console.  You do not invent the causes of death,
but seek the means to preserve life.  You do not forget to help.
You do not abandon the good.  You do not withhold compassion.
You do not bring the sentence of death, but the legacy of life.
You are not opposed for your generosity.  You are not blasphemed for your grace.
You are not cursed for your bounty.  You are not insulted for your free gifts.
You are not mocked for your patience.  You are not blamed for your pardon.
You are not accused for your goodness.  You are not dishonoured for your sweetness.
You are not despised for your meekness.  For these, we send not complaints,
but gratitude that cannot be silenced.  Take away my sins, Almighty.
Remove the curse from me, blessed.  Pardon my debts, merciful.
Erase my transgressions, compassionate.  Extend your hand of deliverance
and I will instantly be made perfect.  What is easier than this for you Lord,
and what is more important to you?  Thus, providential Lord, revive me,
made in your image and brought to life by your breath, in order to renew the breath of your pure enlightening grace, protecting my sinful soul.

© 2001 The Armenian Prayer Book of St Gregory of Narek, English transl. Thomas J. Samuelian, www.stgregoryofnarek.am

Prayer from the Sunrise Office of the Armenian Church

O Light!  Divine and one Holy Trinity,

we who are born of the earth glorify you always, together with the heavenly hosts.At the rising of the morning light, shine forth upon our souls your intelligible light.

English transl. Archbishop Tiran Nersoya, New York, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, 1969. Let us Pray to the Lord, ed. George Lemopolos, WCC, 1996, p.2.

(https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/armenia-azerbaijan-georgia)

Almighty God, we pray for Bible Society in the Gulf as they seek to empower marginalised Sri Lankan domestic workers living in Bahrain, by providing a program to teach essential literacy skills.  We pray for resources and the efficient production of training manuals and teaching materials that will be effective tools for both teachers and students.  We pray that this program will connect more people to God’s word.

We pray for the literacy project, ‘Open My Eyes’, run by Bible Society of the South Pacific in partnership with the Literacy Association, Solomon Islands (LASI).  We pray that this initiative will continue to effectively teach literacy skills and equip people to read and engage with the Scriptures in their own language.  We pray for sufficient funding to effectively implement all project plans and help increase literacy amongst youth and children.

We praise you God for the translation of the Bible into the heart languages of the people of Vanuatu and the accessibility it gives more people to God’s word.  We pray that the production of four translations, revision of two translations and digitisation of three translations will continue to bring hope and encouragement to the people of Vanuatu.  We pray too for the health of translators and for the successful continuity of their work.  We ask that you bless them with wisdom, strength and perseverance.

We pray for those in Myanmar affected by the recent earthquake for comfort to those grieving, for healing for the injured, and for strength to those who have lost homes and livelihoods.  We thank you God that the Bible Society of Myanmar is helping to distribute aid and Bibles to those affected.  We pray for swift, effective aid to reach those in need, and most of all for many to turn to faith and hope in Jesus in this crucial time.

We pray for Australia at this election time.  May you grant wisdom and peace across the country during this time.  We pray that those elected will lead with wisdom, justice and compassion.  We thank you God for the freedom to participate in civic life and pray that your guiding hand would be over our Nation.

We pray that those receiving the Bible for the first time would engage with it meaningfully and encounter Christ through its pages.

(Bible Society Australia April 2025 Prayer Letter.pdf, Bible Society Australia May 2025 Prayer Letter.pdf)

Almighty God, we pray for Autumn Glen Echo, a camp for Years 8-10 in WA.  We pray for all the campers attending, for fun and faith conversations to abound, that all the leaders can share their faith through their words and acts of service.

We pray for the students, teachers, chaplains and volunteers in schools ministries who are returning as Term 2 begins in all states and territories, that they will have the energy and focus needed for the term ahead, taking every opportunity to share your love with those around them.

We pray for the in-service training days happening for chaplaincy, Religious Education in Schools staff and boards in Sydney, Central Coast and Port Macquarie, that heads will be engaged, hearts will be encouraged and inspired, and hands will be sharpened for the work.

Almighty God, we pray as Scripture Union Outback QLD Field Development Manager, Tiffany Wardill, and Christy Marhin have been visiting schools in the outback this week.

We pray for the team running the children’s ministry at the Katherine Christian Convention in Northern Territory this weekend.

The Gathering is a family camp for homeschooled students and families in South-East Qld. We pray that this time away will be fruitful for new friendships and connections to form, as well as old ones being strengthened.

We pray for all students applying for the Certificate II in Community Services as the next intake opens.  We also pray for students who might be struggling with their studies, for perseverance and support.

The team of Scripture Union Field Development Managers across South-East QLD, Southern QLD and the Northern Rivers will be away at Mt Tamborine, spending time together and with you, God.  Ad, so, we pray for refreshment and fresh vision for the remainder of 2025.

As there are many local community and SU volunteer training events happening across Central and Northern QLD, we pray that new volunteers and emerging leaders will be equipped to serve in your mission and be inspired to use their unique gifts and skills.

We give thanks for the Coast-to-coast fundraiser in Tasmania in March.  We are thankful for all those who participated in the challenge, as well as sponsored others and donated.  May the funds raised be used to further your Kingdom through the work of SU in Tasmania.

We pray for all those attending the Mission in the Margins Youth camp in Western Australia, which aims to help campers see the mission field amongst those doing it tough.  We pray that the campers will see Jesus’ heart for the marginalised and how they can be his hands and feet amongst them.

We pray for the Cairns Camp Leader training day that is running on Saturday, that new leaders will be equipped and released for your mission in Northern Queensland.

(SU Prayer Guide April to June 2025.pdf)

Almighty God we give you praise for the grant agreement between New Zealand Minister for Foreign Aid and Trade and The Leprosy Mission NZ for the new phase of Bougainville Healthy Communities Programme (BHCP).  We pray that over the next 5 years, BHCP achieves its goal of creating healthy, empowered, inclusive, and sustainable communities, continuing to support at least 95% of Bougainville’s population.

We pray for stronger collaboration between BHCP and the Bougainville Department of Health as they design and deliver health campaigns on leprosy, TB, malaria, immunisation, and child health.  We pray these campaigns inspire lifestyle changes and lead to healthier communities.

We pray for BHCP’s partnership with the Bougainville Department of Community Government in delivering leadership and governance training at ward and community levels, that people affected by leprosy and disability are included in community leadership.

We pray for the Papua New Guinea Preventative Health and Community Empowerment Programme (PHACE) and the Mud-Crab Farm Project as they move into active implementation.  We pray for the team’s success in eliminating leprosy in remote communities and supporting family income generation activities.

We pray for TLM-PNG’s new Climate Change Resilient Project and SAFE Women’s project, educating communities on climate change, gender-based violence, and sorcery-related violence.  We thank you God for the new teams and their work promoting climate resilience and safe, respectful behaviour.

We pray for ongoing partnerships with Provincial Government and Community Development in Papua New guinea, for positive dialogue with these key stakeholders to help eliminate leprosy and promote healthy living.

We pray for good health and guidance for The Leprosy Mission staff in Bougainville, for Janice Badui – Senior Trainer, for Neil Toura – HR and Admin Manager, for John Koi – Monitoring and Training Manager, and for Jasleen Kler – TLMNZ International Programmes Manager.

We pray for good health and guidance for The Leprosy Mission staff in Papua New Guinea, for Natalie Smith – Country Leader, for Larsen Neayambe – Senior Programme Manager, and for Dorothy Owen – Human Resource and Admin & Logistics Coordinator.

(The Leprosy Mission Prayer Diary 2025.pdf)

Almighty God we pray for God’s healing and restoration for those who have been traumatised and displaced by the violent conflicts in the eastern states of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

A fire destroyed the solar power installation in DRC funded by FEBC Australia.  The power to broadcast currently comes from a neighbour’s generator.  We pray for a reliable, sustained source of power.

We pray for your strength for our Partner in DRC who faithfully broadcasts messages of hope and peace despite facing challenges working in a conflict zone.

We thank you God for our Partner in the Tana Delta, Kenya who supports the community through conflicts, health challenges, droughts and floods.

We pray for the leadership and team of our Partner in Kenya, for the team’s structure, unity and sustained passion to give the community a voice.

We pray for the success of the community-based information and communications technology hub in Kenya, designed to build community resilience and reduce poverty through volunteer training.

(FEBC Praise Prayer April June 2025.pdf)

Prayers of the Congregation

We pray for Portia, that she is progressing well in her studies and university activities.  Please give her peace of mind as she continues her studies and work experience in the coming weeks.

We pray for Andrew, that you will support him as he seeks treatment and care for his medical issues.  We ask that he will increasingly be able to return to normal activities and lifestyle.

We pray for Christine that you will encourage her as she supports Andrew each day with his disabilities. 

We pray for Betty, that she is comfortable in residential care at Blue Care Pilgrim at Kallangur, and that she is receiving the care and support that she requires.

We pray that Val is comfortable and at ease with her stay at St Vincent Carseldine, and that the staff of Moreton House are providing the best of care for her.

We pray for Ahil that you will continue to work in his life to develop his speech and growth, and for guidance and patience for his parents.

We pray for Heather, from PM Village, thanking you for the healing of the ulcers on her leg.  We ask for the care needed to prevent these from reoccurring.

We pray for Gwen that she will be relaxed in her environment at PM village.  We pray for your guidance for those who are providing on-going nursing care for her medical issues. 

We pray for McCoy, her son, that he will find meaningful and well-paid employment.

We pray for Lynfae, from PM Village, that she is comfortable and at ease given her reduced mobility and comprehension of her surroundings.  Please give guidance and patience to those who are providing care for her.

We pray for Peter, from PM Village, that you will ease the pain in his knees, so that he can have easier and pain free mobility around the complex.

We pray for Don at PM Village, that the nursing staff are able to manage his turns and bring ease and comfort to him when these occur.

We pray for Don’s wife, Bev, that you will bring peace and reassurance to her as she copes with Don’s on-going health issues.

We pray for Hazel, as she settles into a routine at her residential care facility and that she is receiving the support and encouragement that she needs.

We pray for Karen Metcalf thanking you for her access to increased services.  We thank you that she is managing her living to her residence. 

We thank you for those who undertook Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School in the past year.  Guide them in their planning as they continue in this ministry. 

We pray for Kylie Conomos, the Scripture Union Chaplain at Bald Hills State School, as she continues her ministry for another School year, that she is feeling refreshed and rejuvenated for the coming year.  We ask that you will bring healing and wholeness to her injured knee and that she will no longer feel any pain.

We pray for those who we have not seen for some time and who are unable to attend worship regularly.  Please guide and comfort them in their particular circumstances.  May they be aware of your care for them as they meet what each new day brings. 

Almighty God, we trust in your love for all people.  We remember the tenderness that Jesus showed to those in need, and ask for your grace and intervention to meet the needs that we have brought before you today.  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.