Prayer of Praise  (Psalm 46: 1 to 3 and 8 to 11) 

God is our shelter and strength,

Always ready to help in times of trouble.

So, we will not be afraid, even if the Earth is shaken,

And mountains fall into the ocean depths,

Even if the Seas rage,

And the hills are shaken by the violence.

Come and see what the Lord has done.

See what amazing things He has done on Earth.

He stops wars all over the World,

He breaks bows, destroys spears, and sets shields on fire.

“Stop fighting,” He says, “and know that I am God,

Supreme among the Nations, supreme over the World.”

The Lord Almighty is with us,

The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Prayer of Confession   

God our Father, we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed,

We have not loved you with all our heart; we have not loved others as ourselves.

God of Eternity, before you generations fall and rise,

May you have mercy upon our foolishness and carelessness.

Jesus Christ, we ask you to have mercy on us.

Holy Spirit cleanse us from all our sins and help us overcome all our faults.

We hold before you those who have been wronged or insulted or offended, but who have not brought their pain and laid it at your feet and who cannot or will not forgive.  Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

We hold before you those who use the young and old to wreak havoc and commit unthinkable crimes under the banner of restoring national pride or of upholding racial or religious purity, those in a broken World who are consumed by words of hatred and revenge.  Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

We hold before you those who provide the material means for promoting and prolonging armed conflict within and between Nations, for oppressing and supressing other peoples, who value wealth and power above your call to work towards peace and mutual benefit for all.  Christ. Have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

We hold before you ourselves, when we have done nothing about the wrong all around us, when we recall those who have not forgiven us.  Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

 We repent of all that we have done that is not in line with your Will and Purpose for Humanity, and all that we have not learnt from the past.

 We hope for grace to know ourselves forgiven, and to offer forgiveness to others.

Almighty God, who promised that all who turn to you in faith will know forgiveness,

Set us free and pardon us from all of our sins.  Strengthen us to do your will and to work towards the coming of your Kingdom.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

ANZAC Centenary Resources Word copy (uca.org.au)

Assurance of Forgiveness 

The Apostle John tells us that, in dying on the cross, “Christ gave his life for us”  (1 John 3: 16)  .  Having confessed our sins before God, and trusting in this promise, we can rest assured that He has listened, that He has forgiven us, and that we are, now, reconciled to God..

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

Let us come before God with our cares and our concerns. 

Almighty God, we bring to you our thanks today for the peace and security that we enjoy, which was won for us through the courage and devotion of those who gave their service and their lives in time of war.  Make us good stewards of the freedom they won.  We pray that their labour and sacrifice may not be in vain, but that their spirit of sacrifice and giving may live on in us and in generations to come.  Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for all who suffer from the effects of war; the loss of home or livelihood, the loss of friends and loved ones, the loss of happiness or security, those crippled or maimed in body as well as in spirit, those who suffer nightmares that years of peace cannot rub out.  Comfort their hearts and grant them your peace and healing.  We pray for those who are bitter about their loss and suffering, and who find it difficult to forgive those who have wronged them.  Heal their hearts and uphold them in your grace.  We pray for the homeless and the refugees; those who have been dispossessed, those families whose lives have been disrupted.  Grant them the means to start anew, provide stability for them with new homes and new communities and new jobs.  Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, in whose hands are the destinies of this and every nation, we pray for justice for those who have been wronged by the violent actions of armed forces, for those who have suffered loss and have experienced oppression at the hands of other peoples and Nations intent on undertaking violent armed acts of hatred over racial, tribal or ethnic differences, or for personal glory or political gain, or out of envy or greed, or who make war in revenge for long-held grievances.  Pass your judgement upon those who instigate and prolong wars and armed conflicts.  Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for all who serve in the defence forces of this land.  Give them courage and comfort in danger, patience in waiting, and discipline in the just use of force, so as to counter acts of hatred and oppression upon the innocent and defenceless.  Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

In this troubled world we pray for peace.  May we be inspired by the determination of those who have served in the fight for freedom, justice and peace.  Give your Spirit of peace to all people and remove from them the spirit that makes for war, that all may live as members of your family.  Prosper the work of those who preserve human rights, promote the pursuit of those who work for reconciliation and justice, and direct us into the ways of understanding, reconciliation and respect.  May we learn to break down fear and ignorance, and to build up cooperation and harmony amongst peoples everywhere.  Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for aid agencies and their workers in conflict zones, protect them from harm and bless their work among the needy.  We pray for the members of peacekeeping forces working under the direction of The United Nations, seeking to bring enemies together for an end to wars, seeking to work to resolve conflict without violence, protect them from harm and sustain their efforts towards promoting peace.  Lord, have mercy.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we remember with thanksgiving those who made the supreme sacrifice for us in time or war. We pray that the offering of their lives may not have been in vain.  Deliver us from the bonds of hatred against those who are hostile towards us, gives us the strength to discard the power of revenge.  Save us from valuing national identity more highly than shared humanity.  May your grace enable us this day to dedicate ourselves to the cause of justice, freedom and peace; and give us the wisdom and strength to build a better world, for the honour and glory of your Name.  Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We especially pray for Patricia, who is currently in an induced coma, as those who are tending to her medical needs determine an appropriate manner in which to treat her illness.  We pray for guidance for them so that they will know the right approach to take so as to bring healing and wholeness to her.  Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

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.