Prayer of Praise: – 

(The 1965 Methodist Book of Worship p131, The 1944 Methodist Book of Worship p192, Uniting in Worship 1 p204, The book of Common worship p312, L. Weatherhead When the Lamp Flickers p30, Opening Prayers p 86, Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year A p147) 

  Loving God, we affirm your presence with us in such an intimate and personal way.  You establish a relationship with us through Jesus Christ.  Your Spirit is poured out to us in such generous measures.  We praise and thank you, O God, for reaching out to us and touching our lives in this way. We turn towards you in gratitude seeking to love as we have been loved. 

  Almighty God, you have disclosed yourself to humankind through the pages of history.  You show yourself as compassionate and gracious, showing your favour to slaves as well as to sovereigns, promising liberty to all who live in hope of the final triumph of your goodness.  You have prepared for those who love you joys beyond understanding, and blessings beyond measure.

  Gracious God, you plant each of us like seeds in a field.  Together we are nourished and nurtured by your love and grace.  We are blessed by the knowledge that you want us to grow towards whatever you call us to be.  We are honoured to be called your children and to be adopted into your family.  We can only respond by giving you our utmost thanks and offering true worship, now and always.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession 

(The 1965 Methodist Book of Worship p131, The 1944 Methodist Book of Worship p192, Uniting in Worship 1 p204, The book of Common worship p312, L. Weatherhead When the Lamp Flickers p30, Opening Prayers p 86, Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year A p147) 

Merciful God, we confess to you our sins and our struggles to live as people of the Light. 

You know us inside and out, you know our deepest thoughts and dreams, and have found us wanting.

We confess our impatience with others, with their mannerisms and habits, with their hesitancy or with their outspokenness. 

Please forgive us. 

We confess that we label others as good or bad rather than to accept them for who they are and especially that you have already accepted them for who they are. 

Please forgive us.

We confess our pride that blinds us to our own faults, our pride that seeks to put us before others or deprives others of the opportunities we seek for ourselves. 

Please forgive us.

We confess our slowness to reach out to the uprooted and rejected, to the lonely and the outcast, to respond to the needs that we see in others and in the world. 

Please forgive us.

Remove from us, lord, anything that dulls our alertness to your presence and promptings.  Strengthen our Spirit when we are slow, temper our zeal when we are rash. 

In your good time, produce in us a rich harvest from the seed that you have planted and tended.  This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(Romans 10: 4 & 10) 

We have confessed our sins before God and confessed our faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ, putting us right with God.  Let us rest affirmed that God has heard our prayers and has forgiven our sins.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

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

We bring to you our prayers for the World around us and for people individually.

We pray for all who are bound by hatred and resentment:

that the Holy Spirit will cultivate forgiveness and compassion within hearts and wither the seeds of Satan that yield revenge, violence, and destruction.

We pray for all who have suffered abuse or who are in abusive relationships:

that the Holy Spirit will translate their cries and tears into prayers and lead them to safety and wholeness.

We pray for Wisdom:

that we may be able to resist the allure of advertisements that offer easy and quick solutions to life’s problems, and invite the Holy Spirit to lead us into a deeper experience of God’s providence.

We pray for members of all levels of our Governments and Local Councils:

that you will break through the mistrust and self-serving that has developed and guide them in developing effective laws to address injustice and the needs of our society.

We pray for those involved with and guiding the criminal justice system:

that your wisdom will fill their hearts so that they may decide fairly for all the afflicted, and have reverence for the value and dignity of each Human life.

We pray for parents:

that you will guide them in nurturing their children, inspire them in helping their children to seek you first and to share their gifts and talents with others.

We pray for children who are at risk, particularly those in homes with drug addiction or violence:

that you will protect them from harm and help their caregivers to protect and nurture them.

We pray for those suffering from the effects of sustained hot weather, and from bush fires, and from storms and flooding:

that you will provide relief from their distress, help those who are suffering to find places of shelter, and provide the resources needed to sustain them.

We pray for Peace in the World:

that you will bring an end to warfare in Ukraine, Sudan, Syria, and between Israel and the Palestinians, protect the innocent from harm, and establish justice for all parties.

We pray for all who are searching for meaning:

that you will guide their search, lead them to a new understanding, help them encounter a community where the Gospel is lived, and grant healing to those whom the church or its leaders have wounded.

Copyright © 2023. Joe Milner. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.  https://liturgy.slu.edu/17OrdA073023/ideas_other.html   https://liturgy.slu.edu/16OrdA072323/ideas_other.html

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.