Prayer of Praise

 (from 2 Samuel 22) 

The Lord is my protector, He is my strength,

He is my comforter and provider, with Him I am safe.

In my trouble I called to the Lord, I called to my God for help,

He heard my voice; He listened to my cry for help.

Oh Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you,

You save those who are humble, but you humble those who are too proud to acknowledge you as their Lord and God.

How perfect are your deeds, O Lord, how dependable are your words.

The Lord alone is God, there is no other.

Proclaim the greatness of the strong and mighty God who saves us!

Praise Him among the Nations, sing praises to Him at all times.

Lord, you are my light, you dispel the darkness in my life,

It is your constant and all encompassing love that strengthens me day after day.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession 

(from Psalm 51) 

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

Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins.

Wash away all my evil,

And make me clean from my sin.

I recognise my faults,

I am always conscious of my sins.

I have sinned against you, only against you,

And have done what you consider impure and evil.

So, you are right in judging me,

You are justified in condemning me.

Sincerity and truth are what you require,

Fill my mind with your wisdom.

Remove my sin and I will be clean,

Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.

Close your eyes to my sins,

And wipe out all my evil.

Create a pure heart in me, Oh God,

And put a new and loyal spirit in me.

Do not banish me from your presence;

Do not take your holy spirit away from me.

Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation,

And make me willing to obey you.

In humbleness and penitence we lay our guilt before you, merciful God.  Please grant us your pardon for our offences, through Jesus Christ, our advocate.

Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(James 3: 10) 

James reminds us that if we humble ourselves before God He will lift us up.  We have come before God with humility and reverence, these words of James tells us that having confessed our sins God is faithful to forgive our sins and lift us up renewed and restored in our relationship with Him.

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 servants of one another, particularly of those in need, and thus bear witness to your love for everyone.

We pray for greater awareness, that we may recognize our common humanity and accompany one another along the journey of life.

We pray for a spirit of humility, that we may recognize all of our gifts as gifts from you and our need for each one of us to become our fullest selves.

We pray for spiritual freedom, that you will awaken us to our selfishness and disordered desires that distract us, and, instead, help us choose ways to be instruments of your mercy and compassion.

We pray for the grace to change, that you will help us to curb our passions of envy and the desires to possess, so that we will be free to live peaceably and with gratitude for all that you have given us.

We pray for a clearer recognition of healthy and unhealthy ambitions, that we may be aware of the motivations that stir our hearts and respond to those that lead us closer to you and toward greater wholeness.

We pray for all leaders in the Christian Community, that you will guide them toward fuller discipleship through practicing self-sacrificing service in their ministry and the lives.

We pray for the poor and powerless in our society, that we may hear their voices, understand their pain, and humbly walk alongside them through life’s challenges.

We pray for all who have been impacted by hurricanes, floods, or wildfires, that you will strengthen them, remove the obstacles which they encounter, and guide them to the assistance that they need.

We pray for the members of our Governments and Local Councils, that you will give them wisdom and insight as they address the budgetary and infrastructure issues before them.

We pray that you will bring healing and hope to the sick and ill, and strength to those who care for them.

We pray for greater recognition of the harm being done to the earth, that World leaders and each of us may take meaningful steps to curtail the environmental damage of the planet and work to protect the poor and vulnerable from its effects.

We pray for Refugees and Immigrants, that those who have fled violence and starvation may find safety, new communities of acceptance, and the resources needed for life.

We pray for the unemployed and those facing evictions, that you will guide them to beneficial resources, help them to maintain their housing and family life, and open new opportunities for them to use their talent.

Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved.<br> Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.  https://liturgy.slu.edu/ 

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.