PRAYER OF APPROACH
We come before you, O God,
in awe of your power and might.
Heaven and earth are surely full of your glory.
We come celebrating our belief that you –
God of the whole universe –
chose to reveal yourself to us in Jesus Christ.
We are awed beyond words in the knowledge
that your self-revelation included the way of the cross…
Thus in Jesus your abundant love for all people
is made visible.
We adore you, O God,
and we praise your holy name,
and we pray that this time of worship
will bring honour and glory to you.
This we pray in Jesus’ name,
who invites us to pray…
followed by 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
Prayer of Confession:
Almighty God of wonder and power,
we come confessing we find it only too easy
to assume you will enforce your will,
rather than for us to work at making the way straight
to bring about your Kingdom.
Lord have mercy LORD HAVE MERCY
Lord Jesus, who shines with the glory of God,
we confess we find it only too easy
to rest in your resurrection and ascension,
than to make the effort to walk the way of the cross.
Christ have mercy CHRIST HAVE MERCY
Holy Spirit, who throughout the ages empowers those called by God,
we confess we find it only too easy
to recall the good and great works of those who went before us,
than to beseech you for double their spirit!
Spirit have mercy,SPIRIT HAVE MERCY
The Promise of Reconciliation
it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’,
who has shone in our hearts
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.
In Christ God has effected our salvation,
therefore we exclaim with grateful hearts
THANKS BE TO GOD
PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
Let us approach God as a people who,
though having recognised the Light of the World, Jesus Christ,
still have key aspects of our living influenced
by the god of this world;
let us pray for our redemption:
Gracious God,
we approach you as a people profoundly influenced
by the concept that might is right,
when Jesus shows us by the way of the cross
that might and righteousness do not mix.
Grant us as your people the strength to subvert might
through daily ordinary acts of kindness
to those with whom we share our living,
and extra ordinary acts of empathy towards those
we are urged by the mighty to consider as our enemies.
We approach you as a people profoundly influenced
by all that fuels an economy based on consumption
and competition and envious comparisons.
Grant us as your people the grace to subvert
the assumptions underlying our global economies
through transforming our habits of consumption
into habits of care and conservation.
We approach you as a people profoundly influenced
by the expectations that life is meant to be a breeze,
trouble and pain free.
Grant us as your people the courage
to accept the imperfections
within us as people;
our physical, mental and even spiritual struggles
with ill health and the disappointments and pain
life throws at us
so we may receive that deep joy of your peace.
We pause a moment to pray for those known to us
within this congregation, our families and friends,
and even those beyond them
who struggle with debilitating and or/disastrous issues!
Grant them the recognition of your care
and the gift of your peace!
In the name of Jesus Christ,
who pioneered the Way of the cross for us,
AMEN