Prayer of Praise:

(from David Hostetter Prayers of God’s People Year B pp186 – 188, Uniting in Worship p277, John Drescher Invocations and Benedictions p93, An Australian Prayer Book p256) 

  Lord of power and might, we give to you our praise for you are the Creator of Heaven and Earth.  Your mighty works are revealed to us in what we see around us, the vast oceans, the tall mountains, life in its abundance and variety, the stars and planets in the night sky, each a marvel of your creative power.  Your incomparable intellect is revealed to us by what we cannot see; the intricate structure of the smallest atom, the physiological systems interplaying within our bodies, the forces that keep a planet in its orbit around a sun and that move a comet through the solar system.

    Lord of wisdom and truth, we give to you our adoration because you are the author and giver of all good things; for through your goodness towards us we are nourished; for through your great mercy we are kept safe and secure.  We are blessed because you fill us with your gift of peace and share with us the joys of your Kingdom.  We can rest assured that your love is constant and that you will keep your promises towards us for ever.

    Loving God, your actions are guided solely by justice and compassion.  You care so much for the helpless and the disadvantaged.  Your heart goes out to the powerless and the abused.  Your great love extends to those who hide themselves away from others because of a deep loss or sorrow or anguish, to those who we choose not to see.  There is no force or being that can overcome your will.  There is no other authority or power in Heaven or on Earth that can stand in your presence, for all things must kneel before you.  For you are God, the one true God who will reign forever     Almighty God, we are grateful for you have made yourself known to us through the healing and saving power of your Son, Jesus Christ.  You have provided the means for the forgiveness of our disobedience, for the wiping away completely of the stain of sin in our lives.  Everything else pales into insignificance compared to your sacrificial love for us.  May this inspire us to a life of worship of you and of service to others, to your glory and honour.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession    

Merciful God, we come before you contrite and repentant.  We come before you as fallen people. 

We are all guilty of letting you down, of going our own way; guilty of offences against your instructions for us and negligent in omitting to love others as you love them. 

We seek to forget about our sins, as if by being out of our mind they are not in your mind; yet nothing is hidden from you.  We seek to treat them as unimportant and diminish their significance; yet each and every one causes you anguish and pain. 

You alone judge rightly, and search the depths of our hearts to reveal our true nature of disobedience and wilfulness.

We crave after things in an effort to satisfy a craving in our souls.  We seek after possessions and pleasures as if this was the purpose of life. 

Merciful God, forgive us.

We envy the wealthy and all the satisfaction in life that they seem to have, yet forget that possessions and money do not guarantee peace of mind and soul.  We boast of our qualities and skills.  We like to tell of what we are able to achieve all by ourselves, yet fail to acknowledge your blessings in our lives and neglect your call to live a life of modesty and gratefulness. 

Merciful God, forgive us.

We are hardened to the distress in other’s lives, and are unable to perceive their greater needs.  We withhold the simplest of help that we are asked to give.  We neglect to comfort those who need a quiet word of consolation.  We refuse to consider giving to someone because of the cost that it may mean for us.  

Merciful God, forgive us.

Merciful God, please forgive us for each and every time that we have failed you and have failed others.  Please forgive us for each and every time that we have not lived according to your perfect laws and precepts. 

For we acknowledge that we alone are responsible for creating the chasm that exists between yourself and our sinful lives.

Yet merciful God, you declare your almighty power in showing mercy and pity towards us.  Your Word reveals that you are a God of boundless compassion, who eagerly forgives all penitent sinners. 

There is no other god like you, for you are a God who pardons sins, whose compassion extends to casting our sins into the deepest depths of the ‘sea’. 

Let your Holy Spirit empower us in our worship and in our daily service for others.  Continue your work in our lives so that we may mirror your nature in our thoughts and words and deeds. 

Complete your work in us when you call us to yourself to share in the table of abundance that you have told us has been prepared for us.  May we follow the path of repentance and faith, to your glory and honour.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from James 5:15b and 16) 

James reminds us that a confession made in faith before God will be acknowledged.  So, having confessed our sins before God, we can be confident in knowing that God has listened to our prayers, that He has heard them and acknowledged them, that our sins have been forgiven and our lives have been made clean in God’s sight.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

God of mercy, we pray for a world in which even ordinary Humanity fails so often.  We pray for government ministers in every nation.

We pray that those who lead and take on great responsibilities may not simply wish to seem great in the eyes of others, but may genuinely serve their people, searching continually for polices and strategies which will be for the good of all, especially for the weakest and most vulnerable.

God of goodness, whose Son became a refugee and had no place to call his own; look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger, homeless and hungry. 

Bless those who work to bring them relief; inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts; and guide the Nations of the World towards that day when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and of peace.

God of all compassion, we pray for those who are sick, especially those whose illness is long term and demands much patience to bear.  We remember before you those who are lonely and depressed, those who live in despair, and for any who struggle with addiction.

Comfort with your presence those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, and give them courage and hope in their troubles.

God of justice, we pray for those who live in fear of violence, for political prisoners, and for those who imprison them.

Strengthen the World to confront the oppressor, and to free the oppressed, so that all people may know the peace and unity which you seek for your Earthly realm.

Eternal God, we regret that so little has changed in our World today since the days of Esther.

There is still intrigue in high places.  There are still unholy alliances.  There is still the problem of evil in the guise of good.  There is still deceit used to gain selfish ends.

So it will be in the World until its end.  Yet we ask for your aid as we go about building our lives, our nation, and our World in this twenty first century.

May we not be disillusioned because of the deceit of peoples’ hearts.

May we not lose faith in people because of the faithlessness of the few.

May we not fail to see this as your wonderful World or be dispirited.

May we not lose a faithful and expectant spirit which is expectant for good, expectant for hope, expectant for triumph.

May we not lose hope in the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

As with Esther in her day, may we not forget to give you thanks for your goodness to us.

Be with us, O God, who faithfully turns sorrow into gladness, weakness into strength, and defeat into triumph.

(http://www.thisischurch.com/prayer_worship/intercession/ordinary25_yearb_2015_stewart.html, https://lifeinliturgy.wordpress.com/2018/09/26/pentecost-19-proper-21b/, https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/prayer/, http://www.richardeinerson.com/september-29-2024.html )

Additional Prayers

Almighty God, we pray for your Church that we may welcome the gift of the Spirit and be transformed by the Spirit’s work in us so that your mercy, compassion, and presence may be manifest through us to our World.

We pray for the grace of discipleship, that we may never prefer anything, even our most treasured possessions, to our relationship with Christ.

We pray you will break the chains of jealousy and greed that work to claim our hearts and hold our society in bondage.

We pray for a renewed sense of mission, that we may each use our unique gifts and opportunities to share your love through words, deeds of compassion, hospitality welcome,

or cups of water.

We pray for an openness to the Holy Spirit, that we may welcome all whom you call to serve in the various ministries of our faith community and listen for the Spirit’s promptings about new forms and styles of service that are needed to meet the hungers of Human hearts.

We pray for all young people, that the Holy Spirit will fill them with wisdom and understanding so that they may correctly perceive the values of life and not be seduced by wealth, fame, or power.

We pray for all whose faith is weak, that the Holy Spirit will draw them closer to you and protect them from being scandalized by the Human failures within and conflicts between communities of faith.

We pray for all who have been cheated or defrauded of their income, that you will overturn the injustice and provide for their needs.

We pray for all children, particularly those who lack food, homes, or healthcare, that you will guide us in providing for these little ones.

We pray for all who are suffering, that you will heal the sick and those who have suffered abuse, free those caught in addiction, and give hope and strength to those who are recovering from hurricanes, flooding, and fires.

We pray for refugees and displaced people, that you will give them courage as they seek lives free of violence and intimidation, and that they may find welcoming new communities.

We pray for Peace, that you will open doors to negotiations and the end of warfare in all the areas plagued by violence.

Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use. – https://liturgy.slu.edu/26OrdB092924/ideas_other.html

Almighty God, we pray for the peoples of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Peru.

We are thankful for the distinctive rhythms, music, dance, food and natural medicine in this area, for the beauty of the region, forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, and ocean coastlines, and especially indigenous peoples’ relationship with, and care for, the natural environment, for churches who witness and work both ecumenically and with those of other faiths to build relationships of trust and commitment amid ongoing injustice and oppression, and for the diversity of languages and cultures flourishing in the region despite disruptions that have occurred through colonization, and political and economic turmoil.

We pray for Christians to have the courage, imagination and energy to build bridges of

peace and understanding against conflict and division, and to pursue justice for the poor, marginalized and dispossessed, for an end of corruption in all levels of the society, including economic exploitation which impoverishes and hinders economic growth from benefitting all, for immigrants and refugees seeking a new home, and those who accompany and support them, and for coca farmers to find sustainable incomes from other crops, for an end to drug trafficking, and effective assistance for those who are addicted.

A Mapuche* Blessing

God of life, Mother of all, you renew creation.
Bring us peace and justice, ‘balance’ in the Mapuche sense:
balance and harmony for the earth,
balance and harmony for the peoples of the world,
balance and harmony for men and women,
balance and harmony between nature and ourselves and God.

(*Mapuche means ‘people of the earth’. They are the aborigines living in the south of Chile and Argentina. Source: the Mapuche Pastoral Team, Santiago, Chile. From: The website Red de Liturgia, Latin American Council of Churches)

Our Father in heaven, holy is your name.We thank you for the gift of life,
which is renewed every moment with your beauty.
Your mercy, God, confirms your love.
In your hands are our destiny and our life.
All-powerful and merciful God, we pray for the future of Peru,
for the poor who often go hungry, for the victims of disasters.
Provide them with all they need from you, with all they require of you.
For the salvation of our souls through the death of your Son,
we thank you, but we pray for those who are left out,
who do not have a relation with you, who do not even know of your existence.
Lord, no longer allow human evil to go forward.
Keep corruption, which often touches the life of churches, from proliferating.
We especially pray for the authorities of Peru,
that they be given the wisdom to plan towards a better future.
We pray for justice because here, too, the rich dominate
while justice is denied to the poor.
Lord, we pray for the leaders of your churches,
give them courage to bear with the poor, and the ignorant,
but also with those educated, who in their hypocrisies scorn your people.
Grant, O Lord, peace in all the world
and an end to war which only destroys and kills.
May the strength of the Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts.
May we live under your refuge and protection.
Bless our families.  Give us your happiness.
Thank you, Lord, for turning your ears towards our requests.
Give us the humility to accept your will.
In your hands we place our future and our livelihood.
Thank you, Lord, for giving us much more than we deserve,
especially for giving us the happiness of having access to your word.
Receive our adoration and our prayers.  Thank you, Lord, for answering us.

(Victor M. Ascanio Huaringa, Peru, 2005. English transl. Terry MacArthur/WCC)

God of Life, prepare our hands for a touch, a new and different touch.
Prepare our hands for a touch, a touch of encounter,
a touch of awakening, a touch of hope, a touch of feeling.
Many are the worn-out gestures.  Many are the movements frozen in time.
Many are the useless excuses just to repeat attitudes.
Give us daring to create new titles of community,
new kinds of affection, breaking away from old ways of relating,
encouraging true, meaningful ways to move into closeness.

(Ernesto Barros Cardoso, Brazil. Gifts of Many Cultures: Worship Resources for the Global Community, Maren C. Tirabassi and Kathy Wonson Eddy, United Church Press, Cleveland OH, USA, 1995, p.4.)

And the waters will flow from your altar, Lord, and flood the earth.
And we will be like a garden watered, cared for, exposed to life. 

Oh! let these waters come, impetuous and pure,
and destroy the powers and clean the paths which my people will take,
singing and rejoicing in an endless celebration,
the Word, Life, Freedom and the Resurrection! 

And the waters will flow from your altar, Lord,
and clean away the debris and we will have courage to act,
to serve, to change the world. 

And the waters will flow from your altar, Lord, life will be rekindled,
and we will see the new creation, act of your love.

(Simei Monteiro, Geneva, Switzerland. English transl. Colleen Reeks. Whole Life, Holy Life, Ernesto Cardoso, ISER, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.)

Prayer for peace and justice in Bolivia

O God, from Bolivian soil,
The Bolivian people implore you to listen to their voice,
feel their sadness and see the tears of your people,
which are also your tears.
So many bodies without any life left have fallen in the streets,
in the roads and in the fields,
leaving behind pain and sorrow within the Bolivian family.

In those moments in which their hearts are mourning from such suffering,
give them consolation.
Do not allow them to relinquish their self-control, but give them a vision
so they can see with their own eyes the way they ought to go,
so they can reach life by the path of justice.
Hear, O God, the voices of the multitudes
who march in the streets and highways crying for justice,
tired of so much misery, the lack of work, corruption and violence;
tired of so much authoritarianism by the people in power,
who take decisions without consulting the people
and who are guided by their own stingy interests;
tired that the natural resources that you have given for the well-being of all the people
are once more being used to benefit the economic interests of the large
transnational corporations.

Hear the voice of the Bolivians and give them discernment and strength
so that they can respond to hatred with love, to injustice with righteousness,
to apathy with commitment to their people, to individualism with solidarity,
to violence with peace.

Hear their voice and inspire within their hearts (and within ours) the knowledge of peace,
the strength of justice, the joy of being close to one another.
Guide them to walk with the crowds on the way of peace with the signs of justice.
O God, hear their voice and grant to them (and us) your eternal peace.

(Gustavo Loza and Mirela Armand Ugon, Cochabamba, Bolivia. © Red de Liturgia y Educación Cristiana CLAI-CELADEC.)

(https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/bolivia-brazil-chile-peru)

We thank for God for the Bible Society of The Persian Gulf team as they address the diverse needs of various nationalities and cultures in their region.  We pray for wisdom and strength as they provide spiritual resources in a context where Christian activities are limited.  We pray for the millions of migrant workers in The Persian Gulf facing challenges like isolation, low wages, and tough living conditions, for their safety and well-being, and for opportunities to hear messages of hope through the Bible Society and local churches.

We thank you God for increased financial support for the work of the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX) and for the opportunities these extra funds make possible in 2024 and 2025.  We pray for the CPX team as they speak at events around the country over the coming months — that their messages will be clear, and that you will challenge and encourage those present.

We thank you God that school students are delving into your word in their SRE classes.  We pray for BSA’s Scripture Grants program to reach more students this year.  “Our Bibles have arrived!” shares Christine, SRE teacher.  “The students were so excited and were keen to look up the Bible verses we were using for our Scripture lesson. Thank you so much for providing these Bibles for Scripture at our school, at no cost.”

We pray for your guidance and support for the translation of the Bible for ethnic minority groups in Vietnam, for which there are usually no printed Scriptures.  We thank you for the newly translated Gospel of Luke, complete with study guides, in several minority languages, and pray that this will greatly impact those who speak the language, and that many Bible study groups will form to study it.  We pray that new believers are grounded in your word and also that many will know your love as they read your word in their heart language.  We thank you God for the Scriptures being translated and distributed to people like Tuyen* who lives in rural Vietnam and has never had access to Scripture in the ethnic minority language of her family. When reading the Gospel of Mark, Tuyen shares, “The stories are more interesting in [my language]!” This translation has allowed Tuyen (along with 650 other families in her province) to experience God’s word in their heart language and preserve the use of it in their community.

We praise you God for the success of BSA’s Masterclass events in the last month, at which high school students were encouraged with relevant talks about living as a Christian.  We pray for the students who attended and those who bought ‘Read This.’ Bibles — that this event and God’s word continue to bear good fruit in their lives.

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

Almighty God, we pray for global leaders to choose peace over war, for more to receive the peace that comes from one’s restoration to you.

We pray for your protection and encouragement for those serving in conflict regions and countries which are hostile to the Gospel.

We pray for more churches to provide for the use of Sign Languages for supporting the worship of the Deaf community.

We pray for communities without a sign language to be able to develop one.

We pray for you to strengthen the faith of believers persecuted around the World.  May their faith and FEBC broadcasts inspire others to follow Jesus.

We prat that Christians may experience discipleship and community along with a desire to reach out to those who have not heard the Good News.

We pray for the unity of believers around the world, that we would be one with one another and with you (John 17:21).

We prat that you will strengthen FEBC’s partnerships with local churches around the world.

We pray for local teams producing their own programs in local languages, that they will connect with the local communities with whom they have a focus.

We pray for FEBC teams worldwide who have been gathering for digital media and evangelism training, for the fruitful application of the learnings.

(FEBC%20Praise-Prayer-Jul-Sep-2o24.pdf)

We praise you God for the seven Christian lunchtime groups in public schools around Canberra this year, and for the 20+ volunteers who serve each week to make them happen.  We pray for deepening connections between churches, schools, volunteers, children and their families.

We pray that you will continue to open doors for young Christians to be trained in leadership through future development and growth of the SU Australia Emerge program in Tasmania.

We pray that the Spring Camps may run smoothly and the campers and leaders find joy in Jesus during this time of creating a loving community.  Please give peace to all the leadership teams as they oversee the programs.

Please bless the Secondary Make a Difference (MAD) camp at Coolamatong.  May all who participate on this camp come to a greater understanding of your love and grow in their desire to be a blessing to others around them.

We pray that the Alice Springs Kids Games would be a time of faith, connection and fun for the children.

We pray for guidance for Mark Hawkes in the Mid-North region of SA as he seeks to lead a number of teams in a few towns reaching children and youth, and finding the right ways into the communities.

We pray that the Years 7-12 campers at the Beach Bash Camp will have fun and explore their faith in a meaningful way.

 We pray that the primary school aged children on the Zone 40 camp in the ACT will have fun, feel a sense of belonging, and engage well with the Gospel message and teaching offered at camp.

We pray for the Inspire Art Camp in NSW that amongst all the fun & creativity, the campers would come to a deeper knowledge and love of Jesus.

(Scripture%20Union%20Prayer-Guide%20July%20to%20September%202024.pdf)

Almighty God,  we pray for the stabilisation of the social and psychological situation in South Korea, which is confused by low economic growth and an ageing population.

We pray for all the work of The Leprosy Mission Korea, that leprosy work and care for elderly and disabled persons, will operate smoothly.  We pray that all the operations of TLM Korea will continue to work well.

We pray for your blessing on TLM Korea’s Jesus Hospital and nursing home for the elderly, who help not only elderly people affected by leprosy who are not benefiting from the public assistance system, but also poor and low-income elderly and disabled people to become self-reliant.

We thank you, God, that the Board of TLM Korea is managing our work very well, for Ki Hyo Bae – Chairman of TLM Korea, and for Nan Hee Kim – Medical Director Allun Cho.  We pray for continued blessings and guidance for them.

We pray for José Manuel Carballo, one of the volunteers in Spain, for his family and his work with his church, where he is a church elder.  May you open the door at the right time for him to travel to Nigeria and see the work and find direction on his service overall.

We pray for Vivian and Samuel Calderon, two volunteers for TLM Spain, offering thanks for their business, which, although it has struggled through the recent turbulent years, is starting to show signs of recovery.  We pray for their financial health so they can fulfil their desire to use funds from their business to support workers in the mission field.  We pray, too, for their family, their marriage and for their daughters, Noa and Sara.

We pray for Miguel Torralba, a volunteer who is carrying out his thesis on leprosy in Spain at the Fontilles Alicante Sanatorium.  We pray for the success of his thesis and for his work as a doctor, as he continues to care for his patients.  We pray, too, for his family and his church.

We pray for Jose Real, another volunteer at TLM Spain, for the health of his wife, for his children and grandchildren.  We also pray for all his responsibilities in the church, for health

and constantly renewed strength.

We pray for Administrative Assistant Spain (all volunteers) José Manuel Carballo Vivian, and Samuel Calderon Miguel Torralba Jose Real.

We thank you God for the work of Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy GPZL, a global coalition committed to ending leprosy, who represent most of the worldwide stakeholders involved in leprosy, including individuals and organisations (such as TLM) who share our triple-zero vision: zero transmission of leprosy, zero disability, and zero discrimination.

We pray for unity and a sense of shared purpose as the Leadership Team works on more focused objectives for the coming years.

We thank God for the work done to date towards future low-cost diagnostic tests for leprosy, and pray for the GPZL diagnostics working group as it encourages and motivates diagnostics developers and funders towards that end.

The Leadership Team currently includes representatives of organisations of persons affected by leprosy in Brazil, Colombia and Nepal.  We thank you God for the flourishing and increasing confidence of people’s organisations in many countries.

We pray for guidance and good health for the GPZL Leadership Team Chair – Bill Simmons, and for the Vice Chair – Takahiro Nanri.

We thank you God for the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Organisations ILEP, a consortium of international organisations, including The Leprosy Mission, with a shared desire to see a world free from leprosy, and an acknowledgment that none of us can achieve this on our own.  We thank you that through the programmes of its member associations, ILEP spans more than 60 countries and 1,000 project locations worldwide, and that most of the global expertise in leprosy resides in ILEP’s members and their in-country partners.

In the past two years, ILEP member associations have embarked on a series of collaborative projects with potentially global impact.  We thank you God for the progress made and pray for an ongoing enthusiasm to work together on game changing innovations.

The ILEP Advisory Panel is a group of seven people from six countries who bring a depth of insight through personal, lived experience of leprosy.  We pray for the impact of their work as they link with organisations of persons affected by leprosy in various countries, encouraging them to raise their voice especially on issues of discrimination and human rights.

ILEP members have mainly worked in countries with high rates of leprosy, but countries that are closer to zero transmission of leprosy are increasingly calling for ILEP’s support in the ‘last mile’.  We pray for ILEP and its members as they decide how to meet this opportunity

We pray for guidance and for good health for the ILEP President – Brent Morgan, its CEO – Geoff Warne, and its Administrator – Monty Mukhier.

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

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.