Prayer of Praise    

  Almighty and everlasting God, the giver of life and the source of peace, we thank you for leading us through the past week, for the guidance that you have provided and the grace that you have so freely given.  We thank you that we can so openly come together to offer to you our worship; we thank you for the privilege of meeting in public to offer our praise.

  We see your greatness in what you have created.  We marvel at the intricate ways living things are put together.  We catch a glimpse of your majesty in the rolling storm clouds and the thundering surf.  We can perceive your tenderness in the love that a parent has for their child.

  We praise you that we can confidently declare that you are our God, and that we are your people.  We praise you for your work of redemption in each of our lives, for the sacrifice of your Son for each one of us.  We praise you for the openness by which you welcome us, in spite of our backgrounds and our past.  We come before you, O God, as people who frequently stumble, but we gather here in the wonderful knowledge that you never fail us. 

  Living and loving God, in your great concern for the World, you desire to help us and to keep us safe.  This was most visible when you sent your Son.  That you, Creator of Heaven and Earth, should so care for us is almost beyond our imagination.  How can we come with anything other than praise and adoration for this priceless gift of life to us?  A gift made possible through the sacrificial love of Jesus, your Son, our Lord and our Saviour.

  You have revealed yourself to us, so that we can know what is the truth.  You have given your word to us, so that we can know the way to come to you.  You have blessed us with the life of your Spirit, so you can make us a faithful community living out our faith in you.  In humility and assurance we awaken each day to the knowledge of your providence for us, for our body and for our soul.  We look forward to the time when we will live in communion with Jesus in the mansions in your Kingdom that he has prepared for us.  We are blessed that now we live in communion with your Spirit who unites us and empowers us.

  Redeemer God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you alone are our hope, you alone are our salvation, you alone are our life.  To you belongs all majesty and glory, and to you we offer our praise and our worship,now and always.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession   

Merciful Lord, you alone can judge rightly our innermost thoughts.  You alone see whether we observe your laws from the heart or only keep it outwardly. 

We confess that often we have failed to be an obedient Church.  Often, we have not done your will and have rebelled against your love.  We seek your forgiveness.

Merciful Lord, you alone can see whether we are driven by our desires or by our love.  You alone see what motivates our actions. 

We confess that often we do not calm our anger or annoyance.  Often, we have not loved our neighbour or have heard the cry of the needy.  We seek your forgiveness.

 Merciful Lord, you alone know whether we truly seek to be reconciled to you or to be reconciled to those who live around us. 

We confess a stubborn heart that refuses to accept that we can be in error, that we make mistakes and that we can cause sorrow for you and for others.  We seek your forgiveness.

Merciful lord, we confess our readiness to affirm our belief in your guidance, yet we fear to move into the unknown on behalf of the Gospel. 

We find that it is risky enough trying to shape our own future.  We seek your forgiveness.

We want to experience the new life that the Spirit breathes into us so that we too can give shape to that future.  Yet we fear that it may disturb our present condition too much.

Break through our resistance and our fear O God with your perfect and all-reaching love, so that we may hear and respond to your call, to your promises, and to your leadership in our lives, with heightened enthusiasm and deepened faith. 

Gracious and loving God, forgive our lack of trust in you; help us when we hesitate, and strengthen us where we are weak, so that we will have the courage to follow Jesus wherever he leads us.

Forgive us, we pray, cleanse us from all of our sins, and thereby make our worship acceptable to you.  Guide us and strengthen us by your Spirit so that we may give ourselves to your service and live this day and every day in love to one another, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness  

(Colossians 2: 13b)  

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians states quite clearly, “God has now brought (us) to life with Christ.  God forgave all of our sins”.  Let us then hold onto this promise, that God has listened to our prayers, that God has forgiven us and cleansed us in His sight, and that we are truly reconciled to God.

Prayers for Others

Loving God, knowing your love for all of Humanity, especially your compassion for the needy, we come to you with our cares and our concerns.

We pray for the Church, that we may be transformed by the fire of the Spirit into a dynamic community of faith and give witness to your abiding presence and action in the World.

We pray for this community of faith, that the Spirit will raise a sense of urgency within us to share your love and mercy with all who have no direction in life.

We pray for the grace of perseverance, that you will strengthen us in times of conflict and suffering so that we may remain faithful disciples.

We pray for a renewed inspiration, that as we recall the witness and example of the women and men who have gone before us, we may be inspired to offer witness in our society to your grace and mercy.

We pray for all leaders of the Church, that they may faithfully witness to the truth without succumbing to pride, self-centeredness, or being judgmental.

We pray for all teachers and administrators as they prepare for the remainder of the school year, that you will give them wisdom, patience and understanding for each of the students with whom they will work.

We pray for all who are suffering for their discipleship, that you would give them strength, console them when they are rejected, and help them to respond with love and forgiveness.

We pray for a spirit of gratitude, that we may appreciate all the gifts that you have given us and become rich in those things that foster life and love.

We pray for courage, that the Holy Spirit will empower and sustain us even when the fruits of our pursuit of the truth yield division and confusion.

We pray for families which are divided or in conflict, that you will help them to hear and understand one another and find ways to support each other on life’s journey.

We pray for all who have been impacted by violence or abuse, that you will heal their wounded spirits and memories, help them find places of safety, and help restore a spirit of trust within them.

We pray for greater understanding of your Creation, that you will guide us in understanding the interrelationships of our environment and help us to be good stewards of Creation.

We pray for all recovering from storms or floods, that you will comfort them in their loss, give them strength, and open the hearts of many to be generous to them.

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  We pray for the peoples of Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea.

  We are thankful for the natural resources and diverse gifts that come from these countries, such as the distinctive music and dance of Cameroon.  We are thankful for those who minister to victims of sexual violence, trafficking and other human rights abuses.  We are thankful for Christians and people of other faiths who courageously have pursued reconciliation and peace among those in conflict.  We are thankful for individuals and organizations who have provided for health clinics and schools in Cameroon and the Central African Republic.

  We pray for just resolutions to the conflicts and violence among diverse groups and their leaders.  We pray for refugees who flee to other countries, and for those who host them.  We pray for economic developments that make it possible for all to rise out of poverty.  We pray for stable democratic governments that effectively serve the common good.

PRAYERS

For our country Cameroon, our regions, our villages, our towns

Heavenly father, we humbly pray: 

Direct the leaders of our country, Cameroon, now in this time when terrorism is overtaking this great nation. Grant them wisdom and understanding, and help them to respond to this crisis, quickly and effectively.  Direct them that they may do what is right in your sight. May they follow your divine will to lead our nation on the paths of peace and safety.

Unite all response agencies in an organized and harmonious fashion to bring quick and

effective resolution to the issues created by the actions of Boko Haram. Empower us as Cameroonian citizens to do our own part, financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Give us strength to support all who have been affected by this tragedy.

O Lord, we also pray for effective eradication of corruption that is destroying our beautiful and rich country. Touch our heart and enlighten our thoughts so that we will use our resources for the benefit of the entire nation, for Africa and ultimately the whole world.

Bring peace and comfort to all those who are suffering as a result of these crises.

Surround us with your love and mercy!

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Catherine Manga, Cameroon)

Lord Jesus,
you who have marked seventy times seven our falls each day,
and who know the dull frenzy of our eyes, darkened with fever and rancid wind,
you who know the snares of the fowler,
and his net that circles our steps in the bush, and our paths to the villages,
here we are given over to the horn of the rhinoceros,
and here are hovering the vultures and goshawks.
But you, who know the frailty of our two feet of clay,
and the place of our weakness and that of our rousing again,
Lord, let us not yield to temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

(A Procession of Prayers: Meditations and Prayers from around the World, comp. John Carden, WCC, and Cassell, London, UK, 1998, p.210)

Prayer from Cameroon

When we contemplate such beauty,
the immensity before us,
blossoming with colour and scent,
the surprising diversity of all that surrounds us,
the green forests, the animals,
the intelligence which allows us humans
to create with you,
God, the acts of your grace on our behalf,
we can only express our joy at being your children
and gladly sing of the generosity of your love.

(© Rev. Dr Kayoka-Luendu M., Cameroon. English transl. Dr Colette Bouka Coula, adapted by Terry MacArthur.)

Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org)

  We pray for an end to corruption in Cameroon, for an abiding to moral standards and integrity by the government, the administration, the Police and the judicial system, and by Business leaders.  We pray for a restoration of Bible reading, faithful preaching and holiness among professing Christians in Cameroon.  We pray for Godly leaders to arise in the Church in Cameroon, for the provision of theological training for Church leaders, for greater spiritual unity and cooperation between Denominations, and for the success of Bible translation and literacy projects in Cameroon.

  We pray for an end to ethnic divisions among the church in the Central African Republic, for a healing of past wounds and a deeper appreciation and level of trust among Church leaders and missionaries.  We pray for an increase in staffing, funding and resourcing of Bible Schools and Theological education.  We pray for progress with Bible translation and literacy projects.  We pray for the removal of obstacles to the setting up of Christians radio programs.

  We pray for a Government in Equatorial Guinea that seeks the good of its people and not the holding on to power and privilege.  We pray for strong church leaders who look for the spiritual nurture of their Congregations and not for political influence.  We pray for new and improved facilities for the training of Church leaders.  We pray for the swift completion of Bible translations projects and the distribution of Scriptures.

  (from Operation World by WEC International) 

  Loving God, give courage to those facing temptation, that they will be strengthened to hold onto the blessing and support of your word.  Please comfort those who have recently been bereaved.  Please give comfort to the lonely, that they will experience your closeness and companionship.

  (David Hostetter in Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year C P153 & 154) 

  We pray for the work of UnitingWorld in supporting Maha Bhoga Marga Foundation (MBM) to build the confidence and skills of vulnerable groups in Bali to participate in village governance and advocate for their rights.  We pray for the success of projects to equip vulnerable people to monitor the funds allocated to their village through the Village Development Program, and investing it in vocational training, health services and grassroots advocacy.  We pray that this project will succeed in achieving a greater representation of women, people with disabilities and poor families in targeted villages and increased distribution of local government budgets towards their specific needs.

Empowering Voices in Community Decision-Making in Bali (unitingworld.org.au)

  We pray for your continuing presence among those who attended the recent Scripture run Performing Arts Camp in Victoria.  We thank you for the sponsors who enabled children to attend the camp.  We pray for the girl who was given a Bible at the camp that you will speak

to her heart through what she reads and learns from you Word.

  (Scripture Union Queensland Prayer Guide August 2022) 

  We pray for The Leprosy Mission’s Leadership Development Programme (LDP) as through it TLM’s leaders will be strengthened to become strong, coherent and interdependent Members of TLM’s Global Fellowship, able to face the challenges in front of us and take advantage of the opportunities, present and future. 

  We pray for TLM Country Leaders, that they will lead their countries with skill and competence, remembering the material they have learned on LDP.

  (Leprosy Mission 2022 Prayer Diary) 

  We pray for those providing Religious Instruction at Bald Hills State School, that you will encourage them as they lead their weekly classes, and that they will feel supported by the class teachers.  May the Holy Spirit work in the hearts and minds of the children in these classes, that they will come to an understanding of the truths of the Gospel and respond to the message of your love and grace for them.

We pray for the chaplain at Bald Hills state School, Kylie Conomos, that you will continue to guide her and support her as she provides care for the students, teachers and parents of the school.

We pray for those whom we have not been able to worship with us recently.  We ask that they may feel your close presence with them each day, that they will experience your support and encouragement as they journey through life in this time of uncertainty and change.

We ask that you will guide and direct the Congregation and the Church Council as we consider our future as your people in our community at Bald Hills.

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.

Hymn

“Nothing but the blood of Jesus”  Alexander’s Enlarged Hymn book number 171  Alexander’s Hymns No.