Prayer of Praise  

( from Prayers of God’s People Year B p139, Opening Prayers Year B p78, Aust Prayer Book p236 & 237, Uniting in Worship red book p263, A year of prayer p120 to 125) 

Almighty God, we give you the praise that you deserve.  We witness with awe the enormous power of your care that surrounds us.  When our circumstances threaten to swamp us we know that we can put our trust in you.  For you are our unfailing helper and guide, our refuge in time of stress and trouble, the source of everlasting love.  Though storms may rage about us and cause us to be afraid, we need not despair because you preserve us and deliver us from all of our fears. 

   In the beginning of creation your Word subdued the chaos; in the fullness of time you sent your son, Jesus Christ, to rebuke the forces of evil and bring forth a new creation.  By that same power, transform our feeble trust into a strong faith and hope in your saving presence.

   Through the cross and the great miracle of the resurrection you have rescued us from the domain of darkness.  You have ransomed us from the bondage of sin and given us new life.  We honour your name because of your transforming power in our lives.  We thank you for the work of the Holy Spirit, indwelling in our lives and changing us from the inside out.  We rejoice in the assurance that our sins are forgiven.  We are aware of our eternal indebtedness to Christ, who paid an incomprehensible price to set us free. 

   All knowledge belongs to you.  All wisdom originates with you.  No-one ever gave you instruction or counsel.  Humanity is like a drop in a bucket or a speck of dust, less than nothing.  Yet you hold our souls securely in your loving hand.  Because you are greater than all the forces of Satan, no-one can ever snatch us away from your tender care and safe keeping.  You are the only wise God, our saviour, the one who keeps us from falling.  All glory and majesty, dominion and power belong to you alone, now and forever.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession   

Merciful God, we come humbly before you acknowledging our failures and our wantonness to wander from your path.  We confess to our deep shame that our hearts are prone to coldness towards you and towards others.

Our love for you is too often shallow and fickle to give earnest service in your name.  Our submission to Christ is too often fragile and erratic, our walk with you faltering and inconsistent.  We are too susceptible to the lures of the World and the wiles of the Devil. 

When the winds of life become blustery and the waves of strife threaten to overcome us, our faith seems so feeble.

Please forgive our sins.

At times we mirror Society and become corrupted by vice and violence and greed.  We neglect the needs of the handicapped.  We pass by injustice without raising a complaint.  We fail to give compassion to the sorrowful.

We do not treat all persons with equality or dignity.  We turn our faces away from the hopes and dreams of others and insist instead on talking only of ourselves and our so-called achievements.  We are impatient with those who are slow or cumbersome.

We are reckless with the sense of self-worth that others may hold and treat them only as people to use or to command.  We do not offer warmth or comfort to the sad and lonely, and instead profess that if people are not successful in life or always happy then it is all their own fault.

Please forgive our sins.

Merciful God, apart from your Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we cannot love you nor serve you.  Apart from the grace you give to us, we could not persevere and would fall away.  Apart from your cleansing power we could never be fit for Heaven.

Purify our minds and our mouths so that we may truly glorify you.

Grant us the grace to be faithful in our devotion to you, industrious in our proclamation of the Gospel, and untiring in our service for you.

May every aspect of our lives bring honour and glory to your name.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness  (from 2 Corinthians 5: 21) 

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church saying, “Christ was without sin. Bur for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God”.  We can have the assurance then, that having confessed our sin, we can trust that God has forgiven us, has cleansed us and has renewed us.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

Let us come before God with our cares and our concerns.

Almighty God, we pray for the Church, that by your grace, we may live as new creations, no longer living for ourselves but for Christ.

We pray for a deepening of our faith, that you will draw us into a deeper trust so that we may grow in our ability to rely upon you in every circumstance.

We pray for a calming of the storms in our lives, that you will sustain us through the challenges of each day, give us the courage to make decisions, and grant us enduring hope when we cannot foresee tomorrow.

We pray for freedom from fear, that you will lead us from fear and worry to the trust of discipleship through the words of Scripture.

We pray for fidelity to those to whom we are committed, that we may be faithful to our spouses, children, community members, friends, and faith communities, encouraging and supporting one another along life’s journey.

We pray for all who work in science and medical technology, that respect and love for Human life may always guide their research and their use of knowledge.

We pray for all travellers, that you will smooth and quiet the way before them and guide them safely to their destination.

We pray for all who are ill, that you will bring an end to the pandemic, restore the sick to health, and strengthen all caregivers.

We pray for an end to violence, that you will turn hearts from violence, protect all innocent people from injury, and restore confidence in people seeking to live their daily lives.

We pray for all who are recovering from storms and floods or enduring drought, that you will curb the extremes of nature, ease the suffering of those impacted, and fill their hearts with hope for renewed lives and livelihoods.

We pray for Peace, that you will open communication between people of diverse cultures and ethnic groups so that new avenues may be found to build trust and promote justice for everyone.

Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved.<br> Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.  https://liturgy.slu.edu/ 

We pray for the young family at Bald Hills that has recently lost their father following a vehicle accident.  Please continue to comfort and reassure them of your constant care for them.

We pray for the family of Violet, that they will not lose hope that a successful means can be found to remove the tumour that has returned.  Please comfort Violet as she undergoes treatment.

We thank you for those who lead Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School, that you will continue to encourage and guide them in this important task.  We pray that your Holy Spirit will work in the hearts and minds of the children who attend the classes, opening their understanding to the good news of your offer of redemption and reconciliation in their lives.

We thank you for the work that Kylie Conomos is undertaking with the children, parents, and teachers at Bald Hills State School.  Please encourage her in her role as chaplain, giving her the strength and wisdom to deal with situations as they arise.

We pray for those who we have not seen for some time:

We pray that they will know your presence close to them each day.  We pray for your continued care and protection over them.

Loving God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your compassion and care.  To your glory we pray.

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.