Prayers for the week commencing Sunday 30th May 2021

Prayer of Praise

(from Leading Intercessions p24, Opening Prayers p44, Invocations p31, Prayers for the Seasons Year A p107, The book of Common Worship p308)

Almighty God, we see Your greatness in the Creation around us, on Earth and in the Universe around and beyond us. We see Your matchless intelligence in its design, in the boundaries of time and space, in the balance of the various parts and processes, and in the complexity of living things. We thank you for your provision for us, for sunshine and rain, for growth and fruitfulness of crops and produce, for meeting our daily needs.

Almighty God, we are in awe of Your great power that brings about the redemption of the World. We are in awe of the great sacrifice of your Son, a sacrifice made for each of us even while we were still sinners and undeserving of Your consideration. You came to set us free from the darkness of ignorance and superstition. You have released us from our old ways that did not promise us peace, but instead delivered us up to bondage to false hopes. We praise You for Your promise of harmony, in a World that generates hostility and rewards hate. We praise You that we can share in this gracious gift that only You can give, but which the World seeks to deny and to ignore.

Almighty God, we hold onto Your promise that You will abide with us at all times and in all places. We thank You for your Holy Spirit who intercedes for us, and who reminds us of Your Words of instruction and comfort. We thank you for your Holy Spirit who leads us into what is righteous and holy. We thank you for your Holy Spirit who guides us as we pray, and through whose power we can cry out to you as our Heavenly Father.

Almighty God, we thank You for Your patience with us in times when we wander off the path of life. We praise You that You have not cast us aside as worthless or without hope, but, with love, have gently led us back to a right relationship with You and to close fellowship with You. Almighty God, for all of Your goodness towards us we offer our heartfelt praise, now and always. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

(from Moira Laidlaw Year A Easter 6 & Prayers for the Seasons Year A Easter 6 p106)

Merciful God, forgive our incomplete obedience to your commandments, our half-hearted love of your counsel, and our resistance to your instruction.

Merciful God, restore and renew our willingness to follow your will with the Spirit of truth.

Merciful God, forgive us when our worship reveals that Jesus Christ is not at the centre at the times when we meet you. Retrieve our wandering minds and fix them on the wonder and the holiness of the Divine clothed in Human flesh.

Merciful God, inspire and renew our worship with the Spirit of truth.

Merciful God, forgive us when we worship idols of our own making; gods fashioned for our own selfish ends.

Merciful God, bless and renew our lives with the Spirit of truth.

Merciful God, forgive us when we ignore the pain and the hopelessness of so many people in our community and in our World, and so deny Christ’s commandment to love one another in suffering, self-giving ways.

Merciful God, inflame and renew our love with the Spirit of truth.

Merciful God, forgive us when our desire to maintain our standard of living contributes to the poverty of life experienced by others and to the growing environmental problems throughout this World you have bestowed to us.

Merciful God, encourage and renew our sense of justice with the Spirit of truth.

God of grace and mercy, we bring all before you that does not reflect a love for you, that does not meet your standards for us, and that is not an expression of love for another.

Please forgive our sins and wipe away all that separates us from fellowship with you. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

The Prophet Isaiah experienced God mercy and grace when he was told, “your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven”. (Isaiah 6: 7) We, too, in the same manner, come into the presence of God, confessing our sins, proclaiming our unrighteousness and relying on God’s mercy. We, too, receive the same assurance, that God has listened to our prayer, that God has forgiven us and that God has cleansed us in His sight.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

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

Almighty God, we pray for the Church, that we may recognize your love, presence, and action in their lives and empower us to faithful service.

We pray for the grace of understanding, that we may be more aware of our dignity as your daughters and sons and, in union with the Spirit, confidently call you “ABBA” as we experience your love and care each day.

We pray for a spirit of gratitude, that we may recognize all the great things that you have done for us and with grateful hearts share our blessings with those around us.

We pray for missionaries, home and abroad, that they may know your presence and strength as they share the Good News and as they work among the community of people that they serve.

We pray for those who are isolated from their family and neighbours, that they may experience welcome and acceptance as they encounter the Christian community.

We pray for greater stewardship of earth’s resources, that we may be good stewards of your Creation and strive to protect it for future generations.

We pray for all who feel alone and abandoned, that your Holy Spirit will give them insight into the events in their life so that they may recognize how you is always with them.

We pray for all who have experienced abuse, injustice, or prejudice, that you will heal their pain and give them strength to live life fully.

We pray for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic, that you will defeat the coronavirus, heal those who are sick, and give strength to all working against it, particularly in India, and Southeast Asia, and South America.

We pray for the gift of peace, that you will open new pathways for dialogue in the Middle East so that all may live in peace and each family may live in safety.

God of all creation, as we journey together with others in this Great Southern Land, we pray for healing, forgiveness and unity, a creating of a path of good will, with a focus on justice and compassion for all.

Jesus, through the power of your love, give us the courage, wisdom and strength to share our gifts and talents in working to alleviate the suffering of those in need. In peace and understanding we seek to be reconciled with each other, especially those whom we have hurt in the past.

Creator Spirit, we come together in prayer and thanksgiving for the many blessings we have received. Wash over us and give us strength to walk together into the future as one.

(written by a small group of Aboriginal Elder women and Reconciliation Church staff members in 2014)

Journeying together – a Prayer for Reconciliation — Catholic Religious Australia

Lord God, bring us together as one, reconciled with you and reconciled with each other. You made us in your likeness, you gave us your Son, Jesus Christ, who has given us forgiveness from sin. Lord God, bring us together as one.

Throughout Australia, we are different in lifestyle and culture, but we are given new life in Jesus Christ, together as your body, your Church, your people. Lord God, bring us together as one, reconciled of our differences, healed of our hurts, forgiven for our wrongs, sharing you with others as you have called us to do. In Jesus Christ, let us be together as one.
(By Bishop Arthur Malcolm in A Prayer Book for Australia p.203)

Week of Prayer for Reconciliation and National Reconciliation Week (anglicanfocus.org.au)

As we gather, Loving God, as your people in this Nation, we reflect upon our History. We celebrate the good of our Past, of those who sought to work together to make things better, of those who were striving for a better Australia for all peoples.

We lament the bad of our past, the policies and practices towards groups of people that produced suffering, oppression, trauma, hatred, and discrimination. We confess the lack of compassion and the prejudices still prevalent in many people’s actions and reactions towards peoples of a different colour, race, culture or creed.

We ask that you Spirit will inspire us to work together for reconciliation between peoples. We ask that your Spirt will inspire all people to work together for the common good and to participate in your work of love. May we walk together as your Church and follow you as Lord and Saviour, so that all may see the works of our hands and therefore seek to know of your grace and peace.

(adapted from a prayer by Rev Jon Humphris)

Uniting Church Synod of South Australia (kinstacdn.com)

Loving God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your compassion and care. 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.