Prayer of Praise: –  

(from The Book of Worship p56 &163, An Aust Prayer Book p227, Opening Prayers p64 & 134, Invocations p68, Prayers for God’s People Year B p62 & 63, Moira Laidlaw Year B Transformation Sunday): –

  Majestic Lord, we come today to worship you and to celebrate together that you are our God.  You reveal your glory in the beauty and the order of the World and the Universe which you summoned into being, in the loveliness of created things, in the manner in which everything works together.  You reveal your wisdom in the Laws of Physics, in the movement of the Stars across the night sky, and, equally, in the movement of electrons around the nucleus of an atom.

  Infinite God, in your mercy, you encompass us in your arms.  For you are our refuge and strength, you keep us safe in your care and we know that all of our hope is in you.  You heal us when we are disheartened, you bind up the wounds of our souls, you raise us up with new life.  You promise us pure hearts so that we may truly see you, you promise us sincere love so that we may truly serve you, you promise us abundant joy for which we may truly praise you, you promise us that you will never leave us and in this we will put our trust forever.

  Almighty God, your power is revealed in and through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who is the light of the World, in whom is our hope for the forgiveness of sin and a life of blessing.  He gives light to us who when we sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guides us into the way of peace.  In him your abundant love for all people is plainly made visible and is freely made available.

  Creator God, we praise you for you are Lord of History, we praise you 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 thank you for the way you revealed yourself to the first peoples of this Land through your creation.  We thank you that you continue to reveal yourself to us in our time according to your Holy Will.  We praise you as the God who holds all Nations of the Earth in your hands.  In you we put our hope and out trust.  To your glory we pray.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession 

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

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

I have sinned against you, O God, only against you.

I have done what you consider evil, You are right in judging me.

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.

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 my, O Lord,

And put a new and loyal spirit in me.

Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation,

And make me willing to obey you.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(Psalm 51: 17b) 

  The writer of Psalm 51 of his confidence that “God does not reject a humble and repentant heart”.  Like the Psalmist, we have confessed our sins before God with humble and repentant hearts.  Like the Psalmist, let us trust God to keep His promise, let us be assured that God has wiped away our sins and has made us clean in His sight.

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 in Christ, we may find the fulfillment of the deepest hungers of our hearts and nourishment for our life’s journey.

We pray for Ministers and Pastors of your Church, empower them to bring the true bread of life to all who seek your peace.

We pray that we may lay aside our old habits and attitudes that rob us of life and become new persons of love and service in Christ.

We pray that you will open our minds and hearts to recognize the manna that you send into our lives and give us the courage to utilize it.

We pray for a spirit of understanding, that Christ will free us from narrow thinking and help us take on the mind of Christ so that we may see and understand your vision for life.

We pray for a deepening of trust in your providence, that we may live in the present and be freed from the compulsions to hoard or stockpile.

We pray that we may appreciate all the blessings and opportunities that you have given us rather than complain about that which we do not possess.

We pray for all who are experiencing the wilderness in their life’s journey, that they may encounter Christ in their loneliness, a new vision in times of confusion, and renewed energy when the path ahead seems endless.

We pray for freedom from grumbling and complaining, that we may be transformed by Christ and come to a new understanding of the people and the situations that lead us to negativity.

We pray for strength on our daily journey, that we find our nourishment and renewal in the your Word for all our commitments and responsibilities each day.  May our words and deeds show the sincerity of our faith.  May our motives be pure and not driven by a desire for material reward or gain.

We pray for business and government leaders who have responsibility for food, that they will strive with new effort to alleviate the hunger and needs of the poor, of refugees, and of the victims of war.  May our leaders work together to share ideas and strive for ways and means to work together to implement solutions to our problems, to ensure that all people have access to education, health care and opportunities to earn a descent income.

We pray that you will inspire generosity in those of us who have, so that we will share with those who do not.  Save us from the selfishness of holding on to what we can share.

We pray for all who are participating in the Olympics, that you will protect them from harm and help them to use their gift fully for your glory.

We pray for an end to the Covid pandemic, that you will subdue the virus, heal the sick, and give strength to all who care for them.

We pray for all who are suffering from natural disasters, that you will provide hope and safety to those who have fled wildfires, courage to all who are fighting the fires, and rain for those oppressed by drought.  Likewise, we pray for those who have fled floods, may they find refuge from rising waters and support to renew their lives and livelihoods.

We pray for better stewardship of Earth’s resources, that Government and business leaders will recognize the impact of their practices upon the environment and work to promote good stewardship of the air, land, and water.

We pray for the gift of peace, that you will end the violence in our cities and bring forth peace so that all can live in safety and use their talents for the good of one another.  Bring into this troubled World the stability and firmness of purpose that only you can bring, so that people will live their lives for the welfare of others.

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

(also from Leading Intercessions by Raymond Chapman p73 and Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year B by David Hostetter p160 & 161)

We pray for strength for the family of Violet as they support her as she progresses through her current treatment to address the recurrence of her tumour.  Please encourage Violet in the days ahead, and we ask that she will remain positive about her treatment.

We pray for the family of Harriet as they support her at this point in time.  Please give them encouragement for a successful treatment of her illness.

We thank you for the work of Kylie, the chaplain at Bald Hills State School, for her dedication to the welfare of the children at the School, of their families, and of the staff at the School.  Please continue to guide her as she identifies areas of need and as she seeks your peace for them.

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.