Prayers for the week commencing 6th July 2025

Prayer of Praise: –

Give praise to God who joins us here, whose healing Spirit casts out fear:

Hallelujah, praise Him.

We join as one in joy partake, and to our God thanksgiving make:

Hallelujah, praise Him.

Give praise to God who gives us Christ, whose love redeems a mighty host:

Hallelujah, praise Him.

When we’re in need, God does uphold, God’s grace to us is manifold:

Hallelujah, praise Him.

Give praise to God whose Spirit leads, to serve us mortals in our needs:

Hallelujah, praise Him.

Though undeserved, God does forgive, so, to our God our worship give:

Hallelujah, praise Him. Amen.

(adapted from Christians Together in Australian Psalms by Bruce Prewer p29)

Prayer of Confession

Come to us God of peace, come with Your healing and reconciling power.

For we acknowledge that people are prone to act out of fear and not out of trust, that Nations seek comfort and security behind weapons of war and hate, and see gentleness only as a sign of weakness. Forgive us Lord and heal us.

Come to us God of justice, come with Your righteous judgements and mercy.

For we acknowledge that the cries of the oppressed throughout the World often go unnoticed, and the suffering of the poor and needy in our Land often goes unnoticed. Forgive us Lord and heal us.

Come to us God of love, come with Your extravagant kindness and Your goodness.

For we acknowledge that the love that You have for people of every race and culture is not always reflected in how people are treated by those with whom they share the very Earth in which we all live. Forgive us Lord and heal us.

Come to us God of unity, come with Your forgiveness and Your healing grace.

For we acknowledge that we live in a divided World in which few seek reconciliation with their neighbour, in which few seek to forgive real or imagined wrongs but instead hoard their feelings of resentment and their desires for revenge. Forgive us Lord and heal us.

We come, God of hope, as Your pilgrim people, on our journey to Your Kingdom.

We come in penitence, seeking Your forgiveness and asking for Your guidance, so that we can live humble and obedient lives to the glory of Your name. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

(from Psalm 30: 2)

The Psalmist declares that they cried out to the Lord for help, and He provided healing and wholeness. We, too, can rest assured that having cried out to God seeking help because of our sin, we know that God has heard our prayer, and that God has answered us with sins forgiven and souls cleansed in His sight.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

We pray for the Church around the World that it may be a faithful witness to your love and truth,

that the Church may be blessed with godly wisdom and human insight, and guided with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and to preach the Gospel to all people.

We pray for Nations and leaders that the Spirit of wisdom and peace would guide them to bring justice to the oppressed and healing to the broken,

that the Holy Spirit may unite and reconcile, and bring an end to war, hatred and discrimination.

We look around and give you thanks for the wonderful World you have created, a place full of beauty and wonder, for the wind and the waves, the stars in the sky, the changing of the seasons.

Make us more aware of our responsibilities in the stewardship of our World, our environment, our climate and our resources that we may ensure that the beauty of the earth continues for future generations.

We pray for all whose lives are limited by poverty, suffering, sickness or violence and who may not know the fullness of life that you wish for them,

may the Holy Spirit come to them to be their comforter, their companion, and their source of strength.

We pray for nurses, doctors, surgeons, and all who work caring for others,

that your love, your spirit and healing power may flow through their eyes, their lips, and their hands bringing new life, peace and comfort to those they serve.

Lastly, we pray for ourselves, and we give thanks for our health, for each new day that dawns and the opportunities they bring.

May we always speak your truth, love our family, friends and our neighbours and live as people transformed by your grace, may the fire of Pentecost burn brightly in our hearts lighting the way for all to see Christ in each of us.

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.

(https://www.stmarkschurch.com/church-prayers-intercessions-for-worship)

Other Prayers

(Not included in the service in the church)

Almighty God, we pray for the Church, that we may freely share the gifts that you have given us, be open to receive the gifts that others have, and trust that you will sustain us each day.

We pray for the grace to embrace the cross, that we may accept the sufferings of life and allow them to transform us into new creations in Christ.

We pray for recognition and affirmation of gifts, that the Spirit will show us the gifts that are present in one another and give us wisdom in calling these forth into your service.

We pray for wisdom, that we may recognize the personal, communal, and social “wolves” that distract us from following Christ and be open to your inspiration and guidance.

We pray for deeper trust, that we may rely more fully on your providence and less on our possessions and status.

We pray for courage, that we may never be entrapped by our possessions but remain free to use them in our service of you and neighbour.

We pray for missionaries and relief workers, that you will renew their spirits, give them courage, and enable them to travel forward in the service of others.

We pray for all who strive to hand on the faith, that you will inspire parents, teachers, and preachers to share the Good News effectively and dynamically with all whom they encounter.

We pray for lay people who have assumed leadership of the Church’s ministries, that the Spirit will guide them in continuing the work of Jesus in pastoral service, education, healthcare, or social service, and in bringing forth your reign today.

We pray for each of us, that we may hear your call and share in the mission of the Church by bringing hope, relieving burdens, and offering compassionate understanding to all who touch our lives.

We pray for parents who are preparing to send a child out on their own, that you will help them to trust in your love and care for their child and that the Spirit will help these young people to remember the values that they have learned.

We pray for all cities burdened by violence and destruction, that your compassionate care will inspire people to work for the restoration of neighbourhoods and communities and restore hope to all who are struggling against crime and poverty.

We pray for all who long for freedom, that you will open a way for those with addictions, held unjustly, fleeing violence, or entrapped by poverty or illiteracy and help them to begin a new life.

We pray for all who are suffering, that you will open new paths for dialogue between conflicting parties, speed food to those who face famine, guide and strengthen those who strive against oppression, and give peace to those who are grieving.

We pray for all youth, that you will protect them from danger and harm during these holidays and help them to develop their skills and talents through their education.

Almighty God, we pray for the people of Kenya and Tanzania.

We are thankful for the abundant wildlife, natural resources and people indigenous to these countries and that they are protected, not exploited; for the literacy rate in Kenya, the highest in Africa, and for the schools that churches and their partners support and sustain in both countries; for the faithful witness of the churches in their communities, and in building positive relationships with those of other faiths, and for the persons and organizations who meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees from other African countries.

We pray for greater tolerance between Christians and Muslims as they work together to improve the lives of all people; for youth, that they not succumb to radicalization but are prepared to sustain their lives and communities, for all victims of violence, especially sexual or gender-based violence, and all who are marginalized or excluded from communities, for those who are most vulnerable to climate change and drought, that they may have clean water to drink and for their crops and animals to flourish, and for economic growth and trade that benefits all the people.

Prayers

In all seasons, let peace prevail

Dear Lord,
We thank you for the gift of peace. It’s a gift that only you can give.
Lord, we are living in great turmoil – hunger, disease, poverty and tears.
The cost of living has gone so high; there is so much desperation and despair.
Lord, your children are crying out to you – hearken unto us and bring forth a breakthrough.
We pray that above all we will have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you are in control. May we be still and know that you are God who never fails.
We stand on your promises that you have a good plan for us – one of prosperity and not harm.
We pray that as we go through the various seasons of our lives – the ups and downs – that your perfect peace will prevail through all things.
We place our assurance on you knowing that you are above all things and in you all things hold together.
Be glorified Lord. Arise and take your place. Amen.

God of Hope,

whose Spirit gives light and power to your people,
empower us to witness to your name in all nations,
to struggle for your own justice against all principalities and powers
and to persevere with faith and humour in the tasks that you have given to us.
Without you we are powerless. Therefore we cry together:
Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus.

And grant that we may with one voice and one heart
glorify and sing praise to the majesty of your holy Name,
of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

(“An Invitation to Prayer” at the opening of the fifth assembly of the World Council of Churches, Nairobi, 1975.)

We rise up in the morning before the day, to take ourselves to labour, to
prepare our harvest. Protect us from the dangerous animal and from the
serpent, and from every stumbling block.
Boora Punnu [God], you alone have created us and given us the capacity
to feel hunger, so we need grain and we must have fertile fields.

Almighty God, we pray for the Middle East and all areas where there is conflict and war. We pray for peace and reconciliation, that you would intervene to calm the growing storm in this region. We pray for a miraculous move to heal wounds, dissolve hatred, and bring lasting reconciliation between peoples throughout the Middle East. We cry out to the Prince of Peace to break the cycle of fear, revenge, and destruction.

We continue praying for peace in Ukraine and for our Bible Society partners there who are working tirelessly to spread God’s word, and the Bible’s message of peace, comfort, and hope. We pray for their protection and for your peace to truly reign in the hearts of Ukrainians as they overcome the horrors of war.

We pray for strength and clarity for the Bible Society Australia (BSA) team as they work through the end of financial year. We lift up their Finance team as they manage budgets and reporting, and their Donor Support team as they serve BSA supporters with care and excellence. We pray for unity, endurance, and your wisdom across all departments involved in fundraising and communications. Praise God for the many supporters of BSA in their faithful partnership throughout the years.

We pray for the success of Bible Society’s Learning Through Listening program in Cambodia, which aims to empower non-literate people with literacy skills. We pray for the continued impact of this program, especially among remote and vulnerable communities, that many will grow in confidence, literacy, and faith. We pray too that this project will help break the cycle of poverty, bring dignity, and open hearts to the life-changing message of the Scriptures. We praise you God for Piseth*, an orphanage director and pastor, who is helping orphans learn literacy through Bible Society Cambodia’s ‘Learning Through Listening’ program. He says, “Children in the orphanage are not able to read and write at the grade level they are learning, but they have improved by completing additional learning through this literacy program because it is easier to learn …”

(https://biblesociety/July 2025 Prayer Letter.pdf)

Almighty God, we pray for the Scripture Union team in South Australia as they support a local kid’s outreach program at Colonel Light Gardens on Saturday, and that they would reach more children with the love and hope of Jesus.

We pray for hearts to receive the Gospel and for new connections to be made amongst high schoolers at the SUPA and Beyond Camp in Tasmania.

We pray that you would move powerfully at the Beaudesert District Chaplaincy Fundraising Dinner on Monday, raising the funds needed to continue supporting chaplains in their life giving work.

We pray for the Katherine Kids Games that kicks off in Northern Territory on Tuesday, that the children make friends, experience the joy of Christian community and choose to play for ‘Team Jesus.’

We pray for guidance for the team at Strongbala Fishing Day, a day camp for Indigenous young people in North Qld, as they build and foster relationships with participants.

We pray for the Victorian retreat for staff, chaplains and our Coolamatong volunteers who will be attending. May it be a time of connection and refreshment.

We pray that the SU Connect Central Coast Hub on Saturday is a wonderful time for our NSW team to build up, grow, and enjoy fellowship together.

We thank you God for the SU Together Conference and for the many staff retreats happening around this time of year across the country. We pray the retreats would be a great time of rest, reflection and connection for our staff who work tirelessly to support the mission of SU Australia.

(SU Prayer Guide July to August 2025.pdf)