Prayer of Praise: –

(from Psalm 65) 

O God, it is right for us to praise you,

You set the mountains in place by your strength, showing your mighty power.

The whole World stands in awe of the great things that you have done.

Your deeds bring shouts of joy from one end of the Earth to the other.

You show your care for the land by sending rain; you make it rich and fertile.

You fill streams with water, you provide the Earth with crops.

You send abundant rain on the ploughed fields and soak them with water;

You soften the soil with showers and cause the young plants to grow.

What a rich harvest your goodness provides!

Wherever you go there is plenty.

You keep your promises to us and answer our prayers.

People all over the World and across the distant seas trust in you.

People everywhere will come to you on account of their sins.

Our faults defeat us, but you forgive them.  You do wonderful things to save us.

Happy are those whom you love and who dwell in your presence.

We shall be satisfied with the good things and the blessings that you lavish upon us.  Every day we will shout our praises to you and sing for joy, knowing that you are our God, now and forever.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession 

(from Moira Laidlaw in Liturgies Online Pentecost 23C) 

Jesus, friend of us all, you told the parable to people who believed that they were truly righteous and who regarded others with contempt.  We confess that there are times when we say and do things which leave us equally open to your judgment.

Forgive us when we assume that our belief in you gives us a status which makes us superior to non-believers.

Forgive us when we believe that our worship or tithing enhances our importance in your eyes.

Forgive us when we commend ourselves for sharing the humility of the tax collector.

Forgive us when we place more confidence in our own goodness than in your amazing grace.

Lord Jesus Christ, humility for you consists of emptying yourself of all self-serving power and filling yourself with the desire to serve others.  Forgive our reluctance to follow your example and replace any selfish or pious power-plays of ours with your love, your compassion, and your humility.  This we pray in your name and for your sake.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from 2 Timothy 3: 15b) 

Paul reminds Timothy that the Scriptures lead us to an understanding that salvation comes to us through faith in Christ Jesus.  Having confessed our sins before God, let us hold onto that understanding and know that God has heard our prayers and has forgiven our sins.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

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

We pray for the Church, that we may recognize our need for you and resist relying upon our own efforts to justify ourselves.

We pray for growth in prayer, that the Spirit teach us how to pray so that we may deepen our dependency upon you and open us to the length and breadth of your merciful kindness.

We pray for greater compassion, that we may proclaim your greatness and show your love and concern for all who face the burdens of life.

We pray for the grace of humility, that we may come before you honestly, surrendering our pride, and recognizing the limits of strengths and abilities.

We pray for a spirit of gratitude, that we may recognize all our gifts, possessions and opportunities as gifts from you and place each of them in your service.

We pray for all who are bound by a spirit of self-righteousness, that you will free their hearts, break down the walls of prejudice, and open them to the dignity of each person.

We pray for all who are suffering or being oppressed for their Christian faith, that you will comfort and strengthen them and bring them safely through their trials.

We pray for greater respect for each person, that you will turn the hearts of all who rely upon violence and bring healing to all who have suffered harm, abuse or neglect.

We pray for all leaders of government, nationally, state, and local, that you will inspire them with new ways to promote the welfare of citizens and the common good.

We pray for all who are in need; for the poor, the homeless, the widow, the orphan and those on the margins of society, that you will open our eyes and hearts to their needs and their presence in our communities.

We pray for the homebound, that they may experience your presence with them and support from this Christian community.

We pray for all who are recovering from storms, floods or wildfires, that you will give them courage and guide them to the assistance which they need.

We pray for all immigrants and refugees, that they may find new homes and enrich these places with their gifts and talents.

We pray for all who are bound by drug addiction, that you will break the bonds that hold them, help them to seek assistance and guide them to people who will support and challenge them to live in a new way.

We pray for the gift of peace and an end to violence, that you will turn hearts from violence, inspire leaders to start new initiatives and give courage to all who are working for peace.

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We pray for the peoples of the Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.

We are thankful for the natural beauty, climate, and distinctive cultural practices of these islands, for how churches have responded to disasters and served all in need, for how liberation from colonialism and oppression has been pursued through music, words and actions, and for the leaders of the ecumenical movement who have come from this region.

We pray for those devastated by disasters, that their lives, communities and eco-systems might be rebuilt, for the strengthening of all who faithfully witness through word and deed to the gospel, for all those affected by crime and addictions, and for good governance and smooth transitions between political leaders.

Prayers

God is worthy to be praised

L:             Almighty and everlasting God, you are a merciful and forgiving God.
C:            You are worthy to be praised.

L:             You are a kind and loving God.
C:            You are worthy to be praised.

L:             You are a righteous and just God.
C:            You are worthy to be praised.

L:             Almighty God, all glory and honour are yours because,
C:            You are worthy to be praised.

(© Hope Lindo, Jamaica)

Gracious and compassionate God,
faithful to all your promises,
supplier of our needs,
may we never underestimate
the value of all that you afford us;
nor the usefulness of the endowments you give
for the realization of your purposes.
May we never so take for granted
the gifts your bounteous grace provides
as to become victims of the callousness
that produces an abundance of waste.
And save us, we ask you, from becoming
purveyors of the careless and irresponsible disposal
of the waste we produce.

(© Neville Callam, Jamaica)

Prayer of thanksgiving

Creator God,
how could we possibly not thank you
for the earth you have given to us!
With joy we praise you
for the high mountains and their trees,
for the rushing waters of Caribbean rivers
which give the breath of inspiration
and the joy of fruitfulness,
for the forests so luxuriant in foliage,
the glorious tall trees
and the abundance of temperate climes.
Still more, we praise you
for the wisdom for living,
and the commitment which our dignified
and courageous ancestors taught us,
the neighbours in whom we became acquainted with you.

(From the 25th anniversary service of the Caribbean Conference of Churches, 15 November 1998. © 1998 Caribbean Conference of Churches.)

The Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org)

We pray for the volunteers involved with the teaching of Religious Instruction at Bald Hills State School.  We pray for encouragement and support for them as they seek to present the Gospel to the children as is permitted within the framework of RI.  We pray that the Holy spirit is working in the minds and hearts of the children who attend RI classes.

We pray for Kylie Conomos, the Chaplain at Bald Hills State School, that she is being supported and encouraged in her work by the local Churches.  We pray for strength and energy as she undertakes her tasks at the School.  We pray for guidance as she seeks to address individual needs and concerns in the lives of students, parents and staff at the School.

We pray for those who are unable to worship with us in person, that they may know your support and comfort for them each day.  We ask that you keep them in good health and good spirits.

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.