PRAYER OF APPROACH: –

Creator God, you make us and shape us; 
you provide for all our needs 
and you guide our paths. 
Help us to live our best lives for you, 
bringing your peace to our world. 
May we be like Jesus  
in how we live alongside others 
and so draw nearer to you.
Amen

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of mercy and forgiveness,  
we confess that we have sinned against you in thought,  
word and deed.  
We have been envious and selfish, boastful and false,  
quarrelsome and violent.  
We have hurt others and ourselves and dishonoured you. 

 Forgive us, O God, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and renew a right spirit within us.  
Amen. 

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

God of grace and love, we thank you for your forgiveness,  
freely given through the cross of Christ.  
We thank you that you do not reject us in our weakness,  
but welcome us in your mercy.  

Just as Jesus said to the woman who anointed His feet with oil, “Your sins are forgiven…. Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Jesus likewise says to each one of us “Your sins are forgiven…your faith has saved you: go in peace.” 

Thanks be to God.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Loving Father, sometimes the world is hard to understand. There is so much happening around our globe. Many complex and difficult situations: The ongoing wars in the Middle East and eastern Europe. As we survey the world this week we ask that you give us hope. Thank you that we know the transforming power your Spirit can bring. Help us to live in the reality of that hope while we pray for the very real situations around the world.

Lord, thank you that you are in control.
Help us to put our trust in you.

Gracious God, help us to learn to see the world as you do.  The first will be last and the last first. Thank you that you remind us to pay attention to the weak and not just the strong. We pray for those in our communities who are struggling at the moment. We pray for those who are on the margins or feel disenfranchised. Help us, as your church, to notice and respond to the needs we see. We also pray for the powerful, for those who lead and govern. May they see the world as you do, may they work to bring equality and restore dignity.

Lord, thank you that you see the people our society often disregards as unimportant.
Help us to put our trust in you.

God of all, teach us how to welcome others. We are all welcome in your kingdom. Thank you that you see us and know us and that your welcome is deep and personal. During this week help us to be particularly aware of the welcome we offer others. May this church be a place of real welcome, a place where people feel they are seen and known and feel loved and secure.  Help us to work out what this looks like for us.
Lord, thank you that you are a God of welcome to all.
Help us to put our trust in you.

Heavenly Father, help us to keep learning about your kingdom. Thank you that you took time to teach your disciples. Thank you that you showed them a new way to live. Thank you that you turned the wisdom of their world upside down and showed the disciples a new way to think and behave. Help us to allow your words to transform us and to change the way we think and behave.

Lord, thank you for the wisdom we find in the Bible.
Help us to put our trust in you.

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.