Prayer of Praise  

(Leading Intercessions p89, Opening Prayers p26 & 27, Invocations and Benedictions p71 & 72, A Year of Prayer p142 – 144, Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year B p79 to 82) 

  Almighty God, we gather here today to offer to you our praise and thanksgiving.  It is only through your steadfast and enduring love that we can come into your presence each day.  It is only through your rich mercy that we can find release from our burdens and cares.  It is only through your empowering Spirit that we can experience renewal of mind and soul. 

  We cannot boast of our own goodness, nor of our personal achievements, nor of our religious enthusiasm; for they are all rubbish in your eyes.  Far surpassing our own abilities is the greatness of Jesus Christ and his righteousness.  Far surpassing our own knowledge is knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

  By faith you have brought us to the place where we can rest, assured in your presence.  By faith we put our trust in the knowledge that you have paid the price for our sins, that you have redeemed us.  By faith you have delivered us from our troubles.  By faith we rest on the promise of the hope of eternal and everlasting peace and fulfillment with you, at the present time and in Heaven in the Age to come.

  We have come to clearly see that, by your love, you have come into the World, not to condemn it, but to deliver it.  It is because of your love for us that, where once we rebelled against your authority, now we accept your sovereign rule in our lives and put our trust in your sovereign will for our lives. 

  May the works of our hands and the words from our lips be the means for you to bring light to a darkened World and relief to those who are troubled.  May we be willing to share the joy of our salvation with those burdened by sin so that they, too, may turn to you in their need. 

  Almighty God, accept the praise that we bring, to your glory and honour.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession 

(based on Psalm 107: 1 to 43) 

Merciful God, we acknowledge that we are part of your Creation,

We are descendants of Adam and Eve, with whom you were in a close relationship as you walked with them in the Garden.

We acknowledge that, like them, we have listened to the voice of the tempter and have turned our backs upon you.

We have wandered off your straight pathway for life and have drifted away from your presence.

We have rebelled against your commands and have rejected your instructions.

Merciful God, forgive our sins.

We have become lost in our life, not knowing where to go nor how to get there.

Merciful God, forgive our sins.

We are hungry and thirsty for your companionship and your comfort, yet we do not turn to you.

Merciful God, forgive our sins.

We are troubled and distressed, yet we have neglected to call to you for help.

Merciful God, forgive our sins.

We are beset by the storms of life, yet we put our trust in our own abilities to fix every problem that arises.

Merciful God, forgive our sins.

We find ourselves chained to bad habits and to bad lifestyles, yet we try to make changes by ourselves.

Merciful God, forgive our sins.

Merciful God, we recall your constant love for the whole World.

We remember the great and wonderful things that you have done.

We praise you for your readiness to release us from gloom and darkness, from oppression and suffering.

We rejoice because you save us and you heal us.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from Ephesians 2: 5) 

The Apostle Paul reminds us that it is by God’s grace that we have been saved from the consequences of our sins, that it is God who has brought us new life in Christ Jesus.  Having confessed our sins before God, and having expressed our faith in the saving work of God through Christ Jesus, we have the assurance that God has listened to our prayers, that God has forgiven us and that we are alive in Christ Jesus.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

God of love, hear the cry of those who yearn for love;

fractured families, broken homes, neglected, unwanted, alone.

God of love, hear our prayer.

God of justice, hear the cry of those who yearn for justice;

persecuted and oppressed, exploited, ill-treated, broken.

God of justice, hear our prayer.

God of peace, hear the cry of those who yearn for peace;

in battle zones and broken states, frightened, fearful, anxious.

God of peace, hear our prayer.

God of healing, hear the cry of those who yearn for healing;

physical and spiritual, hurting, weakened, depressed.

God of healing, hear our prayer.

God of mercy, hear the cry of those who yearn for mercy;

convicted, in need of your Grace, contrite, humble, bowed down.

God of mercy, hear our prayer.

God of the oppressed, we bring to you the broken ones, forgotten ones, exploited and abused ones.

Bring freedom and release, love and compassion to damaged hearts and souls.

God of compassion, Hear our prayer.

God of the distressed, we bring to you the grieving ones, hurting ones, suffering and wounded ones.

Bring wholeness and healing, comfort and relief, to broken bodies and minds.

God of compassion, hear our prayer.

God of the dispossessed, we bring to you the lonely ones, the homeless ones, thirsty, tired and penniless ones.

Bring hope and sustenance, physical and spiritual food, to hungry bodies and souls.

God of compassion, hear our prayer.

(https://www.faithandworship.com/Lent_intercessions.htm#gsc.tab=0)

Lord God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your lovingkindness.  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.