Prayer of Praise    

Almighty God, Creator of all there is, seen and unseen, known and yet to be known, you are wonderful in your glory.

You are the giver of life and breath, the source of real peace and joy.  We worship and adore you.

We see with clarity that all Worldly powers come under your authority, and that all of Humanity are obliged to humble themselves before you as the true and living God of all. 

We know you as steadfast in keeping your covenant relationship with us, in helping those who flee to you for comfort, and in giving hope to those who despair of life and love.  We worship and adore you.

You are the one who accomplished our salvation.  You are the one who awakened in our spirit the desire to receive your Word which works its very power in those who believe. 

For we know that by obedience to your Word alone we grow mature in the likeness of Christ.  May we never take it for granted, for your Word points us to Christ.  It unveils His glory. 

It speaks to us of truth and opens our eyes not only to an understanding of his sacrifice for us, but also of the promise of eternal life. 

You have made us for yourself.  Our hearts are restless till we find our rest in you.  May we follow you path in our lives.  May all we do and say bring you honour and glory.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession   

Merciful God, we humbly come before you confessing our sins.  We confess that we have broken your holy Laws by our misdeeds and ill-spoken words. 

We confess our disobedience and ingratitude, our pride and our wilfulness.  We confess our failures and our shortcomings, towards you and towards our neighbours.  Forgive us.

Though we are made in your image, we often act as if we are self-made, with no obligation to honour you nor to serve you. 

We are more concerned with what others owe to us than with what we owe to them.  We show more respect to those who wield power and influence in the World than giving glory to you.  Forgive us.

Forgive our false claims to what is in the World around us, for our ungrateful use and abuse of the resources that you have created to sustain us. 

Forgive our wantonness and our wasteful living.  Forgive our desiring for more rather than a passion to share with those who have less. 

Forgive us and wipe the sins completely from our lives. 

Recall us to our true allegiance, so that, above the powers and rulers of this World, you alone may claim our fullest loyalty and love. 

Open our eyes to see more of your truth.  Open our minds to believe it more earnestly.  Open our mouths to declare it more fully. 

For this we pray, to your glory and honour.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(1 Thessalonians 1: 10b) 

The Apostle Paul reminded the Church in Thessalonica that God raised His Son, Jesus Christ, from death, and that it is Jesus who rescues us from the consequences that would have been ours had not we turned away from our sins towards the grace and mercy of God.  We have confessed our sins before God, and have professed our trust in this saving work of Jesus.  Therefore, we have the confidence that our sins have been forgiven and our lives cleansed in God’s sight.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

Heavenly Father, as once again we prepare for Christmas, help us to find time in our busy lives for quiet thought and prayer, that we may reflect upon the wonder of your love and allow the story of the Saviour’s birth to penetrate our hearts and minds.

So may our joy be deeper, our worship more real, and our lives worthier of all that you have done for us through the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We pray for the church:

• For the wider Christian family who will be celebrating this festival in so many different ways, and for those who dare not celebrate openly.
• For Christians in countries where there is persecution.
• For Christians in our own country, with whom we will share our celebrations
• For our Church family.

Grant that all who come together this Christmas time to worship you in whatever manner and place is suitable for them, that they may be enabled to renew their relationship with you.  Help us all to be glad of your presence, and to rejoice at the coming of Jesus.

May your blessing be upon all who worship with us, give us grace to live as faithful members of your family, that we may learn each day afresh to love and serve you.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for peace:

• Give peace to the World
• Give peace to the victims of war, the refugees, the widowed and the orphans.
• Give peace to family and friends; to those who have quarrelled and need to be reconciled.
• Give peace in our own divided hearts.

We know that without justice there can be no peace.  Let peace come when all people are respected, regardless of race and religion.  Let peace come when trading weapons of mass destruction is a crime. 

Let peace come when the Earth’s resources are used wisely for the common good.  Let peace come when money is used to serve and not enslave the World. 

Let peace come through the transformation of our lives that we may do justice, love and kindness and walk humbly with you, our God.

Heavenly Father, your Son came as the Prince of Peace and brought a message of Peace for all people.

Help us to be peacemakers in our own homes, at our work or wherever we meet people, so that the peace and goodwill of Christmas can find a place in the hearts of all people.

We pray for homeless people and for refugees who have no country to call their own.

Let your blessing be with those who work to help the homeless this Christmas, and give to all of us the determination to help where we can.

We pray for people who are lonely, those who are lonely because they have lost a partner, those who are lonely because no-one seems to care, those who are lonely because of handicap or illness.

Let your presence be with those who are alone at this season of friendship and may we take your friendship to those whom we know will be alone this Christmas.

We pray for friends and family who are ill at this time, or who are recovering from illness or injury.

We bring them to you in the confidence that you love them and know their every need and that your healing power is still the same today.  Bless all that is being done for their recovery and answer our prayers according to your will and purpose.  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.