Prayers for the week commencing Sunday 14th November 2021

Prayer of Praise

Most wonderful God, all powerful, holy and true, present in all things, yet limited by none, untouched by place, unaged by time, unhindered by years, beyond all change. We praise you God.

You live in light that none can approach; you are invisible, yet you make yourself known to us; you reveal yourself to all who seek you with their whole heart, you reveal your nature of holiness and love in your actions as Creator and Redeemer. We praise you God.

You draw us to yourself and embrace us. You inspire us to live and to love. Your mercies are more than we can number. Your compassion is without end. We receive your Word with joy and thanksgiving, for you are the source of truth and wisdom. We praise you God.

To the whole World we gladly proclaim your greatness and sovereignty. We acknowledge your majesty and power in binding Satan, and ridding Humanity of the curse of sin and death. We acknowledge the richness of your grace lavished upon us. We acknowledge that you have graciously disclosed to us your intention to unify all things in the Universe in and through our Lord Jesus Christ? We can only praise you to the limits of our vocabulary, and adore you to the capacity of our loving.

Creator God, we praise you that you are Lord of History, for your sovereign plans and purposes for our Nation. We are humbled that you have blessed us as a Nation, for the peace and security that we experience day by day, for stable and just government, for an abundance of food and resources. We praise you as the God who provides for us and sustains us.

God of love and mercy, you do for us immeasurably more than we can ask or think. Your Spirit enriches our lives with a sense of your presence within us as well as around us. You inspire our faith in Jesus Christ and regenerate your people with your energy and love. For all you do, we give you our thanks. For all that you are, we give you our praise. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we confess that we have not been diligent in living our lives to your standards and desires for us. We confess that we have not been pure in thought, word and deed. We confess that we have not been the faithful witnesses for you that you have sought for us to be. We have failed to be the light revealing your grace to those around us.

Forgive us Lord.

We confess that our harsh words have hindered our relationships with others. We confess that we have not brought healing to those crying out for compassion. We confess that we have turned our backs on those who are in need of care.

Forgive us Lord.

We see too clearly how much Humanity has been corrupted with vice and violence and greed. We confess that we as the People you created to make use of the World and to be stewards of the World have failed to fulfil your plans for us.

Forgive us Lord.

We confess that we are proud of who we are, of where we belong or of what we have achieved. But in our pride, we are attempting to compare our greatness with yours. Please forgive the haughtiness that accompanies our pride of race, or of place or of person. For it is only in humbling ourselves before you that we can put ourselves and the World in the right perspective.

Forgive us Lord.

We confess that when we look at our Church and at other Churches, we see a scattered flock, each going their own way. We are sorry for whatever we have done or failed to do that estranges others from you and from ourselves. For it is only in listening to you and following your voice that we find peace and reconciliation.

Forgive us Lord.

Have pity on us, God our Saviour. Grant us grace and courage to cast off our sins, and to turn to you for healing.

Show us in Christ the sure path of salvation, and strengthen us to follow gladly the way of the Gospel. To your glory and honour we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness (from Hebrews 10: 12)

We read in the Letter to the of Hebrews that Christ offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective forever. Having confessed our sins before God, and our faith and trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ, let us rest on this assurance and know that God has heard our prayers and that God has forgiven us completely.

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 we may be a light in times of confusion and turmoil through the witness of our lives and our compassionate care for others. Protect the Church from false doctrine and from all that is contrary to your Word.

We pray for the grace of discernment, that we may understand the signs of the times and recognize your presence, action, and invitation each day.

We pray for the gift of hope, that no matter what challenges we face, may we remain confident that with you, all things are possible.

We pray for all who are facing crisis, loss, or grief, that your Spirit will guide them, comfort them, and help them to face the future.

We pray for the grace of forgiveness, that we may be open to your unending forgiveness and share it with those who have offended us.

We pray for those making new commitments, that you will fill with hope those getting married, becoming new parents, making religious profession, or entering new careers, and guide them through all the joys and sorrows of life’s journey. We pray for all who are in transition, that you will give them courage in facing the unknown, help them to recognize the gifts you have given them, and open them to new opportunities for growth and life.

We pray for all who feel that they have little hope, that you will open new opportunities for those who lack education, employment, healthcare, or safe housing and help them to move forth in faith.

We pray for displaced persons, that you will guide those who have fled violence, famine, or natural disasters, keep them safe from harm, and lead them to places of safety. Give strength to those who work to provide relief to them.

We pray for all who suffer with depression, that you will lift the darkness, give them new hope, and help them find support and acceptance.

We pray for all who have been abused, that you will heal their pain, renew their spirits, and help them to live life fully.

We pray for all who have contemplated suicide, that your love will break into their hearts and help them recognize a reason to live.

We pray for those who are ill or who have been injured. Comfort them in their times of unrest. Bring healing and wholeness to them and relief from their symptoms. Grant patience and insight to those who seek for cures for illnesses, guide them in the direction that will bring success to their efforts.

We pray for leaders of Government, that you will give them an understanding of the critical needs of those whom they serve and the wisdom to address them. Grant true judgement to them, especially so as to avoid wasting human endeavour and resources on building up armed forces rather than on seeking to address injustice, disease and oppressive living conditions.

[Raymond Chapman in Leading Intercessions p84, David Hostetter in Prayers for the Seasons of god’s People Year B p212]

We pray for Brisbane Field Managers for Scripture Union who are away at an SU forum. We pray that the time will be encouraging and for wisdom in their planning for the future.

We pray for students in courses run by Scripture Union who will graduate this month. We pray for good employment opportunities as they seek to be you hands and feet in the World.

We pray for the Island Nations of Oceania: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Easter Island, Fiji, French Polynesia (Maohi Nui), Kanaky (New Caledonia), Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Island, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. We are thankful for the amazing diversity of people and cultures living on the islands of Oceania, the magnificent natural scenery and sea life, and the strong, faithful presence of churches in these lands. We pray for efforts to preserve these island nations in the midst of rising seas, for those adversely affected by earthquakes, volcanoes and cyclones, for those dealing with the legacy of past nuclear weapons testing and with garbage dumping today on their home islands, and for good governance – especially in preserving indigenous cultures –which effectively serves those who are impoverished, hungry, lacking education or unable to make a living.

We ask that you will bless the efforts of Ian and the other volunteers who are leading Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School, that the Holy spirit is engaging with the children who attend the classes, opening hearts and minds with a clear message of your love for them.

We pray for the Chaplain at Bald hills State School, Kylie Conomos, that you are guiding her efforts to care for the children and teachers at the School, that you are encouraging her in her work and supporting her as she gives of herself to those whom she serves there.

We pray for the residents at PM Village, that they will find comfort and fulfillment during their time under care. We pray for the staff, that they will have patience and compassion as they fulfill their roles and responsibilities for the residents.

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