Prayer of Praise  

(Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year A p192 & 193, A Year of Prayer p192 & 193, The Book of Worship 1944 p194, The Book of Worship 1964 p151) 

Almighty God, Creator of all there is, seen and unseen, known and yet to be known, you are wonderful in your glory, you are the giver of life and breath, the source of real peace and joy.  We worship and adore you.

  We see with clarity that all Worldly powers come under your authority, and that all of Humanity are obliged to humble themselves before you as the true and living God of all.  We know you as steadfast in keeping your covenant relationship with us, in helping those who flee to you for comfort, and in giving hope to those who despair of life and love.  We worship and adore you.

  You are the one who accomplished our salvation.  You are the one who awakened us to receive your Word which works its very power in those who believe.  For we know that by obedience to your Word alone we grow mature in the likeness of Christ.  May we never take it for granted.  For your Word points us to Christ.  It unveils His glory.  It speaks to us of truth and opens our eyes not only to an understanding of his sacrifice for us, but also of the promise of eternal life.  We worship and adore you.

  You have made us for yourself.  Our hearts are restless till we find our rest in you.  May we

show our faith in our actions, may we demonstrate our love in labour for you, may we exhibit our hope with courage, and may we bear out our faith through the power of the Holy Spirit.  To your glory and honour we pray.  Amen

Prayer of Confession 

(Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year A p192, Opening Prayers p112, A Year of Prayer p192, The common Book of worship p33, Uniting in Worship 1 p580 and 581) 

Merciful God, we humbly come before you confessing our sins.  We confess that we have broken your holy Laws by our misdeeds and ill-spoken words. 

We confess our disobedience and ingratitude, our pride and our wilfulness.  We confess our failures and our shortcomings towards you and towards our neighbours.  Forgive us.

Though we are made in your image, we often act as if we are self-made, with no obligation to honour or to serve you.  We are more concerned with what others owe to us than with what we owe to you. 

We show more respect to those who wield power and influence in the World than giving glory to you.  Forgive us.

Forgive our false claims to what is in the World around us, for our ungrateful use and abuse of the resources that you have created to sustain us. 

Forgive our wantonness and our wasteful living.  Forgive our desiring for more rather than a passion to share with those who have less.

Forgive us and wipe the sins completely from our lives.  Recall us to our true allegiance, so that, above the powers and rulers of this World, You alone may claim our fullest loyalty and love. 

Open our eyes to see more of your truth.  Open our minds to believe it more earnestly.  Open our mouths to declare it more fully.  For this we pray.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(1 Thessalonians 1: 10b) 

The Apostle Paul reminded the Thessalonians that God raised his Son, Jesus Christ, from death, and that it is Jesus who rescues us from the consequences that would have been ours had not we turned away from our sins towards the grace and mercy of God.  Therefore, having confessed our sins before God and trusting  in the saving work of God in and through His Son, we take this reassurance and declare with confidence that our sins have been forgiven and our lives cleansed in God’s sight.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

Almighty God, knowing of your love for all of Humanity, especially of your compassion for the needy, we come to you with our cares and our concerns.

We bring to you our prayers for the World around us and for people individually.

We pray for all Government officials and employees,

that they may wisely use their offices to promote justice and the common good.

We pray for social and cultural leaders in places of unrest,

that you will inspire their efforts to communicate, guide them in establishing just policies in their communities, and help them recognize the giftedness and dignity of each person.

We pray for all who serve in missionary work,

that you will strengthen them and help them to be effective witnesses to the Gospel.

We pray for a move away from armed conflict and international hostilities,

that the Holy Spirit will impel people and Nations toward resolving conflicts through dialogue and mutual cooperation.

We pray for those who are actively assisting people in places such as the Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Gaza, Sudan, and Mali; those whose lives and livelihoods have faced an upheaval because of recent or long-standing war and conflict,

that you will protect and guide them as they go about being your agents providing comfort and aid to the needy, and as they exhibit the love and acceptance of others that is so central to your nature and your desire for Humanity.

We pray for all who are recovering from earthquakes, storms, and fires,

that you will give them strength, a spirit of hope, and a supportive community so that they may rebuild their lives.

We pray for growth in our commitment to you,

that we may know you as the one and only Lord in our lives, and fully dedicate ourselves to your service.

We pray for the conversion of our hearts,

that the false gods of power, prestige, pleasure, and security may be dethroned so that you, the God of mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and justice may reign supreme in our lives.

(Copyright © 2023. Joe Milner. All rights reserved.  Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.  https://liturgy.slu.edu/29OrdA102223/ideas_other.html)

When we think of the trauma across the world at this time, our minds turn to the terrible situation in Israel and Gaza.

We pray for the innocent civilians who have been caught up in that conflict – for those on both sides who are grieving the loss of loved ones.

 In the midst of their unimaginable grief, may they experience your comforting presence.

We pray for the Israeli hostages, that they might be kept safe, and that they might soon be restored to their families. 

We pray for those on both sides who have lost their homes or livelihoods. We also think of the innocent civilians in Gaza whose lives are in jeopardy because of the lack of food and water, and power for life support devices.

We pray that a compromise to the impasse might be found to relieve the current situation.

We pray for the peoples of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.

We are thankful for the cultures and foods distinctive here, yet enjoyed around the World, for indigenous and other groups who have resisted injustice and human rights violations, for church leaders who have spoken out and acted on behalf of the poor and marginalized, and for developments that improve life for all, while also caring for the environment.

We pray for stable, democratically elected governments committed to the peace and wellbeing of all, for comfort and healing for the families and loved ones of those who have been killed or disappeared, and for those responsible to be brought to justice, for the stopping of corruption, drug traffic, and violence, and those who profit from such activities, and for improved economic life and trade policies so that people will not be exploited and can pursue livelihoods in these countries rather than migrating elsewhere for work.

Statement of faith

We believe in God, the creator of oases and springs of water in the midst of deserts,
who provides resting places of blessing for all God’s creatures and in whose hands we are protected from all evil.

We believe in Jesus Christ, source of life, living water, who satisfies the thirst of those who thirst for peace, who gives strength to the weary and purpose to those who have lost their way in life.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the balm of consolation, companion on the way, who gives strength when we are about to faint and inspires us to continue on the way.

In consideration of what God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, has done this day and throughout our lives, we commit ourselves, as persons whom the grace of God has changed, to accompany others who are at moments of desert in their lives, in situations of pain and times of sadness.

(Red Crearte Workshop, Mexico 2014)

Seed of life

Lord, in this world you have sown the seeds of life in the hearts of our daughters and sons,
seeds which are growing slowly and quietly, seeds whose fruit is the strengthening of hope.
But weed seeds have also been sown.
Their fruit is sadness, sorrow and death.  They try to suffocate all efforts to build a different world.  We draw closer to you in prayer so we can perceive these situations
which discourage and confuse, causing dejection.
Equip us to uncover and denounce evil without hurting the lives of those sowing love and justice.  Fortify the weak stalks so that hope and patience flower in us,
to follow you without ever halting our sowing.

(© Betty Hernández Carrillo, Mexico. English transl. Terry MacArthur © WCC.)

Morning prayer for peace

God of life, in the early light of this new day I want to treasure the opportunity you give me
to wake up enveloped in your peace.
I know that today I will face many different situations.
The world, unfortunately, has not changed much since last night, which you prepared for me to rest.  But knowing that your peace accompanies life encourages me.

Son of Peace, today, make of me an announcer of your peace, which breaks down hatred, egotism, abuse, lies, intolerance, which ends the conflicts between peoples,
families and persons, which reconciles all human beings with God, with themselves, and with all who surround them, making them new women and men.

Spirit of Unity, gather in this humble prayer the prayers from all your people in the world,
that your peace, your justice and your mercy enfold us and enable us to live as one,
the new humanity of peace.

(© Betty Hernández Carrillo, Mexico. English transl. Terry MacArthur © WCC.)

(https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/belize-guatemala-honduras-mexico)

We pray for Kylie Conomos in her role as chaplain at Bald Hills State School.  May she be inspired to undertake her responsibilities and tasks.  Please give to her the energy and endurance to share the struggles of families and children.  But may she also see the joy of lives restored and renewed.

We pray for the volunteers who lead Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State.  May they enthuse the children in their classes to seek to learn and understand more about the message of your love and grace for them.  May the Holy spirit work in the hearts and minds of the children so that they will become the fertile ground for the good seed to grow and bear fruit.

We pray for those whom we have not seen in person for some time .  Please surround them with your comfort and support, and may they experience your love for them every moment of every day.  May they know of our continuing prayers and hopes for them.

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.