PRAYER OF APPROACH:

Gracious God,

you welcome us as your children

integrated into your family as co-heirs with Christ.

Such status is overwhelming;

we pause the daily routine of our living

to offer you this time and our focus.

Grant us sufficient insight into your requirements of us

that we might truly leave

choosing to live according to the mindset of the Spirit,

offering you ourselves, and what drives us,

as instruments of righteousness…

therefore we pray as our Lord taught us to pray:

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

PRAYER OF CONFESSION:

Holy yet merciful God,

we come as your children only too much aware of our shortcomings:

we come confessing how easy we have found it

to focus only on what the NEWS programs bring us,

allowing anxiety and doubt to overwhelm us at times,

Lord have mercy  

LORD HAVE MERCY

we come confessing how easy we have found it

to appropriate without question, the values and priorities

presented to us through T.V. reality shows and soapies,

then thinking this is what life must be like…

Christ have mercy

CHRIST HAVE MERCY

we come confessing how easy we have found it

to just go along with shock jocks,

social media rants and criticisms

about people or situations,

so that grace and kindness disappear from public debate…

Lord have mercy  

LORD HAVE MERCY

Declaration of Reconciliation

Paul informs us:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Through Christ sin is forgiven us!

so we say with joy in our hearts

THANKS BE TO GOD

PRAYERS FOR OTHERS:

O Lord our God,

you have made all races and nations to be one family,

and you sent your Son Jesus Christ

to proclaim the good news of salvation to all people.

We ask that you pour out your Spirit on the whole creation,

bring the nations of the world into your fellowship,

and hasten the coming of your kingdom.

Lord hear us

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

We pray that you will kindle in every heart the true love of peace,

and guide with your wisdom

those who occupy positions of authority in the nations of the earth,

so that justice and peace may increase,

until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love;

Lord hear us

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

Gracious God,

you are the comfort of all who sorrow,

the strength of all who suffer,

we ask that you hear the cry of those in misery and need.

Lord hear us

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

We think

of those living in the midst of violence,

such as witnessed in Lebanon,

We think

Of asylum seekers who continue to live in detention, with no clear way forward to living a meaningful life.

We think

Of those who live with the anxiety

Such as those unable to find employment whilst strugling with crippling financial burdens.

We think

of those struggling with ill health,

such as those within our land and overseas who have contracted COVID-19

and those we know with illnesses:

cancer, arthritis, undefinable neurological disorder,

reduced mental capacity, the aches and pains of old age…

In their afflictions show them your mercy.

Lord hear us

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

Give us, we pray, the strength to serve them,

for the sake of him who suffered for us,

your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord hear us

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

AMEN