Prayer of Praise: –    

Almighty God, you are the one who seeks to be our God, to rule over us with care and compassion.  You are the one who seeks to accompany us in life, to guide us and to instruct us.  You pick us up when we fall, you hold us up when we falter, you weep with us when we are saddened, you cherish us when we despair.  Wherever we go, whether we are alone or with others, you are there with us.

Almighty God, we know that no place exists where your grace cannot touch.  We know that there is no-one beyond your reach.  We put our trust in your promise that if we repent of our sins and believe in Jesus Christ, you forgive our sins and you forget our sins.

Almighty God, in your wisdom you perceived our need for Jesus Christ, our need to feel his presence, our need for Jesus to touch our souls.  We know that we can offer love to others only because you first loved us. 

Almighty God, we gather in your presence with praise on our lips and thankfulness in our hearts.  We gather as your children, whom you have called to yourself and whom you hold as special to yourself.

May we be witnesses to your all-encompassing love.  May we be willing to serve you in a World that is in desperate need of your healing.  May we be faithful in our worship, never forgetting that you are our Creator and Redeemer.  To your glory and honour we pray.  Amen.

https://liturgy.slu.edu/ – Copyright © 2021, Anne M. Osdieck. All rights reserved.  Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.

Prayer of Confession 

(Psalm 51: 3, 4, 1, 2, 7a, 9, 7b, 6, 10, 12) 

Merciful God, I recognise my faults, I am always conscious of my sins.

I have sinned against you, only against you, and have done what displeases you.

So, you are right in judging me,

You are justified in condemning me.

Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love.

Because of your great mercy wipe away my misdeeds.

Wash away all my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.

Remove my sin and I will be clean,

Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.

Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Sincerity and truth are what you require,

So, fill my mind with your wisdom.

Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me.

Revive in me the joy that comes from your salvation and make me willing to obey you.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from Hebrews 5: 9b) 

We read in the Letter to the Hebrews that Jesus “became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him”.  We have professed our faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ.  We have confessed our sins before God, and, trusting, in this saving power of Jesus Christ, we have the assurance that God has heard our prayers, that God has forgiven us, and that God has welcomed us into His fellowship.

Prayers for Others

Creator and Advocate, Conscience and Saviour of all peoples and Nations on Earth,

hear our prayers for a World that stands under judgement for its rejection of your call to display your love and compassion to all.

Drive out the impulses that drive together forces of hatred and genocide among people,

instead, encourage Nations to work together towards the eradication of poverty and need, of hunger and preventable diseases.

Cleanse us and our Society from the prejudices that fail to measure others as we measure ourselves,

may we all strive to relate to others with the love and respect with which you lavish upon us.

Confront those who refuse to be led by just Laws and who seek to act by rules of their own making,

replace their hard hearts with hearts in tune with your will for Humanity.

Challenge those who lead us and govern us,

open their minds to consider and implement the means by which all citizens of our Nation can reach their full potential.

Give to industry and business owners and managers the desire to find the right balance between profit-making and the benefits of employment for their staff,

grant to them the vision of ensuring meaningful jobs and safe working conditions for those whom they employ and hire.

Inspire our healers and care givers with the knowledge and skill to manage the needs of those under their care,

may they give to all who are ill and injured the hope of healing and wholeness.

Comfort those in need of healing in body, mind and spirit,

grant to them relief from their pain and peace of mind for the future.

Encourage those who teach and instruct our children and youth,

that they may see the results of their endeavours in well-adjusted pupils who seek to give back to the society that provided an education and opportunities for their future.

Unite your divided Church and build it up for effective worship and service,

make your Church an example of love at work with reverence alike for you and for Humanity.

  (David Hostetter Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year B p85 & 86) 

We pray for all who are recovering from storms and natural disasters, that you will protect them from further danger, give them strength, and speed the assistance which they need.

We pray for successful administration of vaccines: that you will guide the distribution and administration of the vaccines that aid in the protection for all the human family from the diseases.

We pray for who are all searching for meaningful employment: that God will help them to recognize all the gifts that they possess, open new opportunities to use them, and give them confidence in presenting themselves to employers.

Copyright © 2024. Joe Milner. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use. – https://liturgy.slu.edu/5LentB031724/ideas_other.html

We pray for the peoples of Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden.

We are thankful for the spectacular beauty of the changing landscape of forests, lakes, mountains and glaciers, for churches that are advocating and implementing measures to redress climate change that is dramatic here and throughout the World, for those who have opened their doors and hearts to people migrating to these lands, and for the support for justice, peace and interfaith work that comes from these countries.

We pray for the poor and marginalized who struggle in these rich countries, for personal and investment practices that support environmental sustainability, for growing openness to becoming more multi-ethnic, multi-faith societies, for those who are affluent that they will contribute to making the world and their societies more just for all, and for a Church that is prepared to be a voice in the struggle for indigenous people rights.

We pray for the team at Bible Society Jordan as they seek to meet practical needs and share the Gospel with refugee families.  We pray that every refugee will find and know Jesus, their ‘Rock of Salvation’ — their source of strength in the hardship.  We pray for the volunteers serving suffering families, for emotional and physical protection as they offer helping hands and listening ears.

We thank you God for the release of the new Youth Bible, developed in partnership with Youth Alive.  We pray that the ‘Read This’ Bible would equip young Australians in their walk with you, and that they would be inspired to read and meditate on your word and carefully live it out, with guidance from the Holy Spirit.

We thank you God for Bible Society Lebanon’s ‘Reconcile’ program offering hope to refugee children through an interactive drama presentation about reconciliation and forgiveness, based on Bible Stories.  We pray that through this creative program, children will continue to learn to lean on you for help, strength, joy and peace during difficult times.

We pray for the ongoing translation work in the Auslan Bible project made for the people in the Australian Deaf community, praying for wisdom for the team as they chart the way forward developing resources for Deaf communities and churches throughout Australia. We pray that as they establish connections with Deaf communities nationwide, they will build effective resources that will engage this community with your word.

We pray for the United Bible Societies China Partnership as they continue collaborating with the Provincial Christian Councils this year to provide literacy classes for rural Chinese Christians.  We pray for these students, who are semi to non-literate, so that they acquire literacy skills for everyday life and for studying your word.

We thank you God for faithful literacy teachers like Wei* who shared this testimony. “What’s rewarding is to see how [students’] lives have changed. They’re not only able to read and write better, they’re also more familiar with the Bible … Some of them rarely attended church services before, not even on Sundays. But now they are faithfully coming and happily taking on ministry tasks.”

Bible%20Society%20Prayer_Letter_-_March_2024.pdf

We pray that you would lead Scripture Union us as they recruit a new Toowoomba Field Development Manager.

We pray for the planning of the upcoming Launceston Alive Children and Families Festival on Easter Saturday at Riverband Park, featuring special guest Colin Buchanan.  We give thanks for the opportunity for churches to reach out and engage with the Launceston community.

We thank you God for providing 5 amazing Interns in the West this year and pray for Anica, Jake, Luca, Jo and Ronia to know your love and empowering as they serve with SU.

We pray for CHAT Training in Townsville (on 22-23 March).

We pray for the Emerge Training Weekend, a new initiative in Darwin for young camp volunteers aged 15-25, aiming to equip our 23 young adult leaders for mission (on 23-24 March).

We pray for the team as they prepare for Northern Territory Easter Camp which is running from 5-8 April.

SU%20SEQ-Prayer-Guide-March-2024.pdf

We pray for Misaun Lepra Timor Leste’s Board, as they build relationships with the government and other local and international partners. May this process be a smooth one.

We thank you God for the new Misaun Lepra strategic plan 2023-2027, praying for your guidance for the Chair and Board members and for the teams who will carry out this work. We pray that our targets within the strategic plan will be met.

We pray for the PHACE project, funded by the New Zealand Government through The Leprosy Mission New Zealand, praying for your wisdom for the team as they implement the project in the community.

We pray for the start of the Ending Leprosy Transmission Project in Oecusse, a highly endemic municipality, that having a new office established there could lead to the sort of impact that will attract the attention of the government and other donors.  We pray that this may lead to new partnerships on the border with Indonesia.

We thank you God for the two associations of persons affected by leprosy that have been established in Timor-Leste, AELTL and ATLETIL, praying for their advocacy work, that this will reach more people and ultimately educate people about the early treatment of leprosy and how to prevent disability. We pray that they will raise awareness about the rights of people affected by leprosy.

We pray for the Executive Director and the staff of Misaun Lepra, for their commitment and that they will be able to bring about change for those who are in need in Timor-Leste.  We pray for the health of the team and their families, who always support leprosy work in Timor-Leste.

The%20Leprosy%20Mission%20Prayer%20Guide%202024.pdf

We pray for those who undertake Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School in the coming weeks.  Guide them in their preparation for the words to say and the approach to take with the children in their classes. 

We pray for Kylie Conomos, the Scripture Union Chaplain at Bald Hills State School, as she addresses the concerns and needs of children, parents and teachers at the Bald Hills State School.

We pray for those who we have not seen for some time and who are unable to attend worship regularly.  Please guide and comfort them in their particular circumstances.  May they be aware of your care for them as they meet what each new day brings.

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.