Gathering Prayer: –

God, thank you that we do not have to seek you on our own.
As the people who gathered in crowds and synagogues
recognised together the authority of Jesus,
so may we work together as a community
to recognise you in our worship and our everyday.

Enable us to see your way. Enable us to hear your voice.

Enable us to discern your leading and respond to your call.

 Amen.

Prayer of Confession

God of truth, we bring to you those times when we have used
cheap words to avoid costly action.
Forgive us and grant us your spirit of strength.
We bring to you those times when we have hidden behind the
letter of the law to avoid the challenge of the spirit of the law.
Forgive us and grant us your spirit of discernment.
We bring to you those times when we have disrespected the
authority of those you have called to show us a new way.
Forgive us and grant us your spirit of wisdom.

Help us to when we have not trusted in your presence and seen the amazing way you work in our lives and the lives of others.

Forgive us and grant us freedom from our blindness

and grant us your spirit of wholeness.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

Gracious God, you bless us with the gifts of forgiveness and compassion
and encourage us to turn away from our mistakes towards your love,
and we pray with that confidence that not our will be done but yours,
not our words be spoken but yours, not our authority be revealed but yours,
in all we think and do and say.

Grant us the joy of really being able to say.

Our sins are forgiven.
Amen.

Prayer for Others- Responsive Prayer

God of our impressionable and war-torn world,
we pray for the leaders of the nations,
that they would be wise, just and compassionate
as they exercise their authority.
praying that they discern the way forward
amid the difficult social and economic challenges
May your truth be known,
and your love be shared in Jesus’ name.

We pray for your church – around the world and in our own community,
we pray for creative ways to serve and to share,
for courage and integrity as we listen and pray,
for urgency and daring as we respond to the needs around us.
May your truth be known,
and your love be shared in Jesus’ name.

We pray, in a moment of silence,
for all those on our hearts
and for all those who have no one to name them in prayer.
May your truth be known,
and your love be shared in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

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,

Amen