Prayer of Praise: –

(from Psalm 148) 

Praise the LORD from Heaven, you that live in the heights above.

Praise Him, all His angels, all His Heavenly armies.

Praise Him, Sun and Moon: praise Him shining stars.

Praise Him, highest heavens and the waters above the sky.

Let them all praise the name of the LORD!  He commanded, and they were created;

By His command they were fixed in their places for all Time, by a command that lasts forever.

Praise the LORD from the Earth, sea monsters and all ocean depths;

Lightning and hail, and snow and clouds, and strong winds, which all obey His command.

Praise Him hills and mountains, fruit trees and forests,

All animals, domesticated and wild, all reptiles and birds.

Praise Him Kings and all Peoples, Princes and all other Rulers;

Girls and young men, old people and children too.

Let them all praise the name of the LORD! 

His name is greater than all others; His glory is above Earth and Heaven.

And the LORD has raised up a King, who is the assurance of God’s salvation for His People.

Let us praise the LORD.  Let the People of God, so near and so dear to Him, exalt His majesty and power.  Hallelujah!

Prayer of Confession   

Merciful God, we confess the times when we fail to involve ourselves in planting any seeds of faith in the lives of others.

Too often we are hesitant in our proclamation; seeking safe and suitable opportunities to speak of our faith.  Forgive us.

Merciful God, we confess the times when our personal agendas become more important than yours; the times when we have denied others the opportunity to expand their faith through our lack of interest or involvement.

Too often we are half-hearted in our service; reluctant to stand out from the crowd or to attract criticism.  Forgive us.

Merciful God, we confess the times when our lives become so entangled with the values of the World that we forget what you have said and done and promised.

Too often we live as if dependent wholly on our own resources; relying on our perceived skills and modest insights.  Forgive us.

Merciful God, we know that when we become disconnected from you, our lives become parched and unfruitful, and our faith becomes stunted and dry.

Too often we look to the clouds for our inspiration, in the vain hope of finding you there.  Forgive us.

Forgive the poverty of our efforts and the frailty of our faith, and open wide our hearts and minds to the presence of our Risen, Living and Ascended Lord Jesus Christ.

Bless and renew our lives, we pray, so that we remain connected to you at all times and in all places, strengthening our faith to expand and, growing strongly and vigorously, to bear the fruit of your mercy, your love, your undying life.  To your glory we pray.  Amen.

written by Moira Laidlaw, and posted on Liturgies Online.  Visit that site for many other lectionary-based worship resources.  http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/  , and also written by Rev. Malcolm Macdougall, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from Hebrews 2: 11 & 17) 

The writer of the Book of Hebrews clearly reminds us that it is through Jesus Christ that our sins are forgiven and that we are made pure in God’s sight.  Having confessed our sins before God and confessed our faith in the saving grace of God, let us move forward with confidence that, indeed, God has heard our prayers and has forgiven us.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

Jesus, Humble King, we remember that your family had nowhere to stay when you were born.

Please be with the homeless, the refugees, and those who are struggling to make ends meet this Christmas Season.

Jesus, King of Kings, we remember that powerful leaders visited you when you were born.

Give your wisdom, boldness and grace to our World leaders, to politicians, business people, and those with influence.

Jesus, King of Peace, we remember Herod’s jealously, lies and violence when you were born.

Bring your peace in places of conflict, anger and hatred, across the World and also right here in our communities.

(Sam Hargreaves – https://engageworship.org/ideas/king-jesus-christmas-intercessions )

Loving God, we live in a World where the innocent are the ones who suffer in times of conflicts, where the unprotected are the ones who are the victims of terror and crime.

We pray for your protection over children and their families.  May they experience your care such that their lives and their livelihoods are prosperous and fulfilling.

Loving God, we live in a World where many suffer pain from accident or illness, where many are disabled or sick in body, mind, and spirit.

Please bring relief to those who suffer, please bring healing and wholeness to the ill and the injured.  Please bless the efforts of medical and nursing staff, of counsellors and service providers.

Loving God, we live in a World where the Church seen as irrelevant or, at the very least, distrusted.

Reawaken in your Church its calling to be the light of the World, to provoke the World to judge itself in terms of your standards and principles.  Reawaken in your Church its calling to boldly proclaim your Gospel message of hope for the sinful and the lost.  Reawaken in your Church its calling to show leadership in the caring for the needy and in proper stewardship of your Creation.

(from Leading Intercessions p5, Prayers for the Seasons Year A p30 & 31)

Almighty God, we pray for the Church, that we may know this day how close you are to us, how blest we are, and how you are always with us.

We pray for all peoples on the Earth, that your gift of peace will bring forth goodwill; reconciliation, forgiveness, and an end to terrorism.

We pray for an outpouring of your favour in our time; that the Holy Spirit will rekindle a childlike spirit of wonder and awe within us and an openness to all the opportunities that you offers us.

We pray for a greater awareness of our true identity, that we may recognize our call to be your children and manifest in our lives the deeds of your love and compassion.

We pray for a spirit of connectedness, that as you united yourself with Humanity through the birth of Jesus, we may grow in our relationship with you and with all who walk the Human journey with us.

We pray that, like the angels, we may announce the good news of your saving love and be instruments of peace to all we meet this day.

We pray for the healing of all fear,: that the angel’s message, “Fear Not!”, may free all the Human family from the bonds of fear and impel us to live boldly.

We pray for all who are experiencing darkness through isolation, depression, grief, or violence, that the light of Christ may scatter the darkness and bring hope to their hearts.

We pray for Christian unity, that the vulnerability of the Christ Child may lead to a breaking down of the walls and misunderstandings that divide the Body of Christ.

We pray for all children, that they may be welcomed into this World with joy, nurtured and cared for as they grow, and encouraged to dream great things.

We pray for all who are new parents, that they may recognize the gift from you that they hold and faithfully nurture the gifts and talents that you have given to their child.

We pray for reconciliation in families, that you will heal old wounds and help us to recognize the gift of each person.

We pray for all who are suffering, that that you will heal the sick, give hope to those recovering from disasters, lead the homeless to safe places, and help refugees to find new homes.

We pray for all who are assisting others this Christmas season, that you will guide and protect healthcare workers, public safety officials, and utility workers.

We pray for all who are traveling or away from home this day, particularly members of the military and those who volunteering in remote places, that you will guide their movements, preserve them in love, and bring them home safely.

We pray for our nation, that you will preserve public peace and guide leaders to new cooperation in addressing the needs of the poor and vulnerable in our society.

We pray for peace throughout the World, that the Prince of Peace may bring an end to violence in all areas afflicted by violence and lead all peoples to greater cooperation in overcoming poverty and disease.

Copyright © 2020. Joe Milner. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use. – https://liturgy.slu.edu/ChristmasB20/ideas_other.html

We pray for the success of the Scripture Union run Sanctuary Family Retreat at Camp Coolamatong that runs until Monday, where local Christian families and newly arrived refugee & asylum seeker families gathering together for fellowship and fun.

We give thanks for the Big Tent Family Mission being run with the community in Victor Harbor, SA.  We pray that the Holy Spirit guide, lead, provide and protect his people as they reveal Jesus to many.

We pray for the Merry Beach Mission operating in the first week of January 2024. We pray the team can be wise, Gospel-focused, and Christ-like in their leadership and interactions with participants.

We pray for WA holiday camps and Community Missions being run in January.  We pray for peace & rest for the Team Leaders, and pray campers would come to know Jesus’ love.  We pray for opportunities to share God and his story with the communities in the small towns where they will be.  We pray for the volunteers that they will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and for the soft hearts of individuals and families who will encounter them.

We pray for the leaders preparing for the Autism Spectrum Focus camp starting this Sunday, for an enjoyable and uplifting holiday experience for these families.

We give thanks for SUPA SUMMA FUN being held in Mannum this coming week.  We pray for unity within the team, guidance for the Team Leaders and soft hearts ready to receive the good news of Jesus.

We pray for the Pt Vincent Mission which is restarting these school holidays.  We give

thanks for the enthusiastic team that has gathered. And pray for wisdom, strength and guidance for the first-time team leaders.  We pray the community will join the activities & program, and have a transformative experience of Jesus.

SU SEQ-Prayer-Guide-DEC23-FEB24.pdf

We pray for the Anandaban Hospital, located in southern Lalitpur (on the outskirts of Kathmandu).  We pray that its outpatient department has the required staff and resources to continue to provide the quality orthopaedic and dermatology services, which serve the general community of southern Lalitpur and beyond.  

We pray for the Mycobacterial Research Laboratory that is situated in the grounds of the hospital, that it too will have the resources and building space needed to provides clinical laboratory services, as well as conducting important leprosy research.  

We pray for The Leprosy Mission Nepal’s Training and Technical Support Centre, for the continued success of its residential training facility, providing leprosy training and training on other Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD).  

We pray for its success on building the capacity of the Nepal Government’s health staff, national and international medical students, doctors, and community level volunteers.  We pray for the success of the Nepal Government’s national leprosy elimination programme through case validation, joint supervision, and monitoring of its programmes.

We pray for those who plan to undertake Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School in the new year.  Guide them in their preparation for the words to say and the approach to take with the children in their classes. 

We pray for Kylie Conomos, the Scripture Union Chaplain at Bald Hills State School, as she rests during these holidays before returning in the new school year to address the concerns and needs of children, parents and teachers at the school.

We pray for those who we have not seen for some time and who are unable to attend worship.  Please guide and comfort them in their particular circumstances.  May they be aware of your care for them as they meet what each new day brings.

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.