Prayer of Praise: – 

(from Liturgies on-line, Nathan Nettleton and BD Prewer) 

Almighty God, we praise and adore you.  You are truly without beginning or end.  Your reign is eternal and your being all-powerful, and, yet, you chose to reveal your power in the most powerless and vulnerable manner – as a baby.

As you shared our Humanity in Jesus, you gave the World a new understanding of power.  We know now that power is not to be used to dominate, but to serve others as Christ served.  He transformed the love of power by the power of love. 

We wonder at the baby who the shepherds adored, and who the Magi worshipped.

We wonder at the hands that touched lepers, the arms that embraced little children, and the fingers that anointed blind eyes.

We wonder at the smile that welcomed outcastes, the frown that rebuked the arrogant, and the tongue that told parables of grace.

We wonder at the courage that led Jesus to Jerusalem, the faith that agonised in Gethsemane, and the love poured out on the hill of Golgotha.

We wonder at the lips that gave the first Easter greeting, the wounds that witnessed to his reality, and the Spirit which he breathed on his Disciples.

We wonder at his majesty, and the promise that he is here for us unto the end of Time.

Though Jesus was accused of treason before Pilate and executed by his own Nation, he was the first born from the dead, raised by your power to free us from sin and to make us your holy people.

You gave him glory and dominion forever, and he rules over all with an authority that comes, not from this World, but from you, our God and our Rock.

We gather today to celebrate your rule of love in our hearts as we experience it in Jesus and through the enabling gift of your Spirit.

Most awesome God, help us to honour Christ our King through all the ups and downs of life, through all that we think and do and say.  All gratitude and thanksgiving, praise and glory be given to you for ever and ever.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession 

(from Liturgies on-line, Nathan Nettleton and BD Prewer) 

Merciful God, your grace reaches across races and Nations, neither favouring the righteous alone nor despising the unrighteous, as is the way that we so often do.  Your hopes for us are not deterred by our rebelliousness, our indifference nor our ignorance.

Forgive us for our wandering and going in ways that cut us off from you. 

Merciful God, we boast of our plans to achieve great things by our own efforts, yet these come to nothing because we have not sought to be your faithful stewards and servants. 

Forgive us for when we forget that doing your will is our greatest priority.

Merciful God, we confess our sins to you, knowing that you see our need to live holy and righteous lives much better than we do.  Please forgive not only the sins that we recognize, but also the many to which we are blind. 

Reveal to us our attempts to hide our faults from you, reprove our complicity with the evil that is present in the World around us, and renew within us the love for the powerless and the oppressed that was so evident in the way that Jesus Christ lived his life on Earth. 

Remind us, O God, that the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to witness to the values of your Kingdom in and through all we do and say, and that thankfully this power far exceeds any apathy or fear on our part. 

Renew us with your Spirit, O God, so that our lives testify to the truth of your Kingdom revealed so fully in Jesus Christ, the servant King, in whose name we pray.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from Revelation 1: 5b) 

The Apostle John assures us that Jesus Christ loves us and by his sacrificial death has freed us from our sins.  Having confessed our sins before God, and trusting in the grace of God freely made available to us, we can declare with confidence that God has listened to our prayers, that our sins are indeed forgiven and our lives cleansed in God’s sight.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

Eternal Father, we pray for your Church, of which your Son is King.

We pray that you will draw us together and unite us in the love of Christ, that we may proclaim with one voice your justice and righteousness in a broken World.

Eternal Father, we pray for your World, of which your Son is King.

We pray for peace, reconciliation and healing in the places of war, hatred and oppression.  We pray that the Nations of this World may be united and subject to the rule of Christ the King, through whom and for whom all things were created.

Eternal Father, we pray for our communities of which your Son is King.

We pray for the communities of our friends and families, our Church and our places of work and study.  Help us to know the people around us to be our sisters and brothers in Christ, and to serve them as Christ the King would serve them.

Eternal Father, we pray for all those who suffer or are in pain, those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, among whom your Son is King.

We pray that they will know the presence of the Son of Man alongside them and the power of Christ the King within them bringing peace and healing according to their needs.

Eternal Father, we give thanks to you for all that you do in our lives.

We ask that you use us to make a difference in people’s lives.  Help us to walk in this World as citizens of your Kingdom of Light where Christ reigns as King in glory for ever and ever.  For we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and King. 

(Katharine Smith  The Burning Word  https://www.katharinesmith.org.uk/common-worship-lectionary/year-c-sundays-before-advent/intercessions-for-christ-the-king-year-c-1/)

(Rev’d Steve Foster  (singingvicar@gmail.com) – Capellania Anglicana de La Costa Blanca – https://costablanca-anglicanchaplaincy.org/prayers-and-intercessions/)

Other Prayers (From a variety of sources, bu not used in the service in the church)

Almighty God, we pray for the Church, that we may become people of truth through listening to your Word and giving witness to it in our decisions and actions.

We pray for the grace of detachment, that we may humbly surrender our plans and goals to you and follow wherever you lead us.

We pray for a transformation of our attitudes, that we may follow Christ in using our power and abilities to wash the feet of others, to speak up for those who are oppressed, and help carry the burdens of those who are suffering.

We pray for all believers, that we may come to a deep realization that Christ holds our past, walks with us each day, and has a vision for tomorrow filled with compassion and hope

We pray for all whose commitment to the truth brings them into conflict with the social, governmental, and religious authorities, that they may learn from and be strengthened by Christ, the suffering servant of truth.

We pray for leaders of Government and Judges, that they may recognize that their authority comes from you and that it is intended for the service of the Human community.

We pray for all who bear the marks of suffering, persecution, or famine, that the World community may recognize their dignity and work to alleviate their pain.

We pray for all who are seekers after the Truth, that the Holy Spirit will lead them to the source of all truth and guide them to communities of faith where they and their questions are welcomed.

We pray for families, that members may speak the truth in love to one another and deepen their support for one another along life’s journey.

We pray for a spirit of gratitude, that we may recognize all our skills, opportunities, and freedoms as gifts from you and place them at your service and to one another.

We pray for all who are entrapped by poverty, that you will lead them to freedom and open the hearts of many to assist and encourage them.

We pray for all who are rebuilding their lives, that you will restore the sick to health, guide the unemployed to new opportunities, provide the needed resources to those recovering from natural disasters, and comfort those who are grieving.

We pray for the safety of all travellers, that you will protect all who are travelling this week and help them to have renewing visits with family and friends.

We pray that you will guide World leaders and each of us in caring for the Earth and give us the courage to follow through on difficult choices to preserve our common home.

(Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use. – https://liturgy.slu.edu/ChristKingB112424/ideas_other.html)

Almighty god, we pray for the peoples of East Timor (Timor Leste), Indonesia, and The Philippines.

We are thankful for the vital witness of Churches in this region, for the diversity of ethnicities, cultures and religious beliefs, and especially those in Indonesia who have built bridges between them, for those who have resisted bravely and worked for Human rights, justice, peace and reconciliation, especially the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and for those who protest exploitative mining, deforestation and other environmental damage.

We pray for Governments in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Timor Leste, that they will eradicate corruption, establish justice and peace, and work effectively for the wellbeing of all their people, for victims of violence, torture, drug and Human trafficking, and Human rights violations, that those responsible might be held accountable, for all those affected by earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disasters, and for the rebuilding of communities afterwards, and for ecumenical and interfaith cooperation to bring justice, peace and sustainability to these lands.

Prayers

L: We begin our worship in the name of God the Father
C: who has chosen us to be the channels of blessings;
L: in the name of the Son,
C: who became one like us;
L: in the name of the Holy Spirit,
C: who has given us wisdom and strength.
L: Creator of the Cosmos, of eternity and time:
C: Be with us in this time.
L: Saviour of the world, healer of the nations:
C: Be with us in this place.
L: Breath of all that lives, of people near and far:
C: Be with us in our hearts.
L: Creator-Redeemer-Sustainer, God of here and now:
C: Stir within our lives.  Amen.

(from WCC AGAPE meeting, closing prayer, 2012, Jakarta/Indonesia)

Lord, make us realize that our Christianity is like a rice field: when it is newly planted the paddies are prominent, but as the plants take root and grow taller, these divided paddies gradually vanish, and soon there appears only one vast continuous field.  So give us roots that love, and help us grow in Christian fellowship and service, that your will be done in our lives, through our Saviour, your Son, Jesus Christ.

(From the Philippines. A Procession of Prayers: Meditations and Prayers from around the World, comp. John Carden, WCC and Cassell, London, UK, 1998, p. 174.)

Prayer in remembrance of the victims of the 2004 tsunami

Stay with us, Lord, in the devastating moment
when waters roll above our heads,
smashing trees, destroying houses,
flooding rice fields, swallowing cattle herds,
chasing people running to save their lives.

Stay with us, Lord, in the dark moments,
open our eyes that we may recognize you as the risen One,
who has defeated death and its sting;
who has come by water and blood;
who has been baptized with water by John;
who has changed water into wine;
who has calmed the stormy sea;
who has given living water;
who wipes away our tears.

Stay with us, Lord, in the uncertain moments.
With your Holy Spirit raise us from our hopelessness,
wipe away our disbelief and strengthen our faith,
so that our hearts will burn to proclaim your resurrection,
the water of life springing forth and bringing hope.

© 2005 Ester Pudjo Widiasih, Jakarta Theological Seminary, Jakarta, Indonesia.

(https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/east-timor-timor-leste-indonesia-philippines)

Almighty God, we thank you for Western Australia’s Scripture Union Mentors who dedicate their time to supporting students in schools each week.  Grant them wisdom and compassion as they guide young hearts, helping them to grow in faith and navigate life’s challenges.

We pray for the messages preached at NSW’s spring camps to continue to transform the lives of attendees long after camp, drawing them closer to a love for and relationship with you, their Creator.

We pray for our new partnerships with Churches and Organisations to support chaplaincy and Special Religious Education / Religious Instruction.  We thank you God for our partners that bless us financially, through prayer and resources.

We give you thanks God for the South Australia Family Mission teams preparing and planning for summer missions, that you will guide and lead these teams as they seek to foster ways to engage and create opportunities to boldly share and show Jesus.

We pray for the planning of Northern Territories’ youth and children’s ministry training for 2025.  May the organisers prepare a program that will equip and inspire leaders to nurture the faith of the next generation to your glory.

We pray that Central North QLD’s upcoming summer camps will bless all participants with a time to learn and reflect on the Good News of Jesus, make new friendships and enjoy Christian community.

We pray that many people will hear and respond to the Gospel message at NT’s Community Carols in the Waterpark, hosted by local churches and with SU Australia providing the children’s program.

(SU%20Prayer-Guide-October%20to%20December%202024.pdf)

Almighty god, we pray for the United Bible Society (UBS) and its mission partners as they develop a Global Literacy Strategy tailored to the needs of each country they serve.  We pray for wisdom, clarity, and effectiveness in this strategy and its successful implementation in the years ahead.  We also lift up the UBS Global Mission Team in prayer for your guidance during their discussions and planning.

We thank you God for the “Jesus. All About Life” evangelism outreach run by African Evangelistic Enterprise (AEE) Rwanda.  We praise you that during their 2024 Easter campaign, more than 16,000 people came to Christ and hundreds of thousands have been reached with the Gospel message.  We pray for all Rwandans’ spiritual growth in Christ, especially those who carry scars from the genocide, that this outreach continues to bring more souls into God’s Kingdom.

We pray for Koorong, for continual improvement and progress in serving Australians as a leading Christian bookstore.  We pray for your wisdom and guidance as Koorong navigates technological, business, and market challenges, that you would provide insight into your plans for Koorong, both as a business and in serving its customers, helping it thrive and impact lives for your glory.

We pray for the success of the “Open My Eyes” literacy project in the Solomon Islands, that it will continue to empower communities through Bible-based literacy learning.  We pray for the participants to grow in confidence as they learn to read and engage with Scripture in their mother tongue.  We lift up the volunteer teachers and literacy facilitators and pray for a lasting spiritual and educational transformation.

We pray for the Centre for Public Christianity’s Life and Faith podcast in Australia, that it continues to engage listeners with thoughtful discussions on the relevance of the Christian faith in today’s world.  We pray for the hosts and guests to be filled with your wisdom and insight and for this podcast to reach more listeners, inspiring their faith through these meaningful conversations.

We praise you God for the lives changed through the “Jesus. All About Life” outreach in Rwanda.  Michael* testifies, “I am grateful to God for having provided this opportunity for me to attend this evangelism outreach. I have been involved in different kind of sins. But now I want to testify that I am going back from the outreach totally transformed and believe that I will keep on walking in the new Christian lifestyle as long as I will live.”

(Bible%20Society%20November%202024%20Prayer%20Letter.pdf)

Almighty God we pray for peace and justice within the country of Chad, which tribal issues and violence often disturb this.  We pray for the Sudanese refugees that have crossed the Chadian border and have lost all they have: parents, children, homes and work.

We pray for the health of The Leprosy Mission Chad team, their partners, and their families, who often suffer from malaria and typhoid, as well as other health issues.

We pray for the coordination team of the National Leprosy Control Programme in Shad, who often have difficulty running the programme in an effective way.  We pray for the Chadian health staff, who are often discouraged and demotivated in their role, that they may develop new strength for their work with people with health problems and that persons affected by leprosy will receive the attention they need.

We pray for the many of their patients who suffer from leprosy reaction during or after their treatment, which causes both pain and disability, for an early detection of reaction and speedy and full recovery as far as this is possible.

In a society with big differences between the rich and the poor, many persons with disability are leading a difficult life.  We pray for your blessings on the efforts of the TLM Chad team to find solutions and return people to fullness of life.

We thank you for the TLM countries that support Chad (the Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium) and the TLM International Office team, all of whom are faithfully encouraging the team in Chad.

We pray for good health and guidance for Bunmi Oluloto, the Country Leader in Chad, for Geeske Zijp – Programme Manager, for Marc Djibrine Victor – Administration and Finance Officer, for Djibrine Arabi – Human Resource Officer, for Abdel Djelil Hassane – Driver, and for Hissein Dagache – Chairman of the TLM-Support Committee.

(The%20Leprosy%20Mission%20Prayer%20Guide%202024.pdf)

Almighty God, we pray for people and resources to be used to preach the Gospel to the unreached in Western Cham in Southeast Asia, Population: 325,400*, Language: Western Cham, and Religion: Islam.

We pray for FEBC’s programs helping to reduce domestic violence against women in countries in southern Asia where this issue is common.

We praise you God for the nearly 1.7 million who watched the FEBC Kyrgyzstan Partner’s web streaming last year and the more than 82,000 people who subscribed to its Instagram. We pray for receptive hearts.

We pray for the FEBC Kyrgyzstan Partner who received nearly 25,000 listener responses via WhatsApp, email, and phone, for our team to engage with listeners wisely.

We pray for those living in Mongolia who are facing economic challenges due to the war in Ukraine, for God’s provision for the poor to stay warm in the harsh winter.

We give you thanks God for a new studio in Kazakhstan, which will be used to record programs and for rental income.  We pray that the team is successful in seeking local income.

We praise you God for the number of FEBC Kazakhstan’s Facebook views to reach close to 1.6 million in 2023, with many reacting to testimonies  We pray for more Kazak believers to share their testimonies.

(FEBC Praise-Prayer-Dec-Oct-24-digital-FINAL.pdf)

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.