PRAYER OF APPROACH:
Gracious LORD God Almighty,
we come into your presence
mindful of the beauty of creation,
the grandeur of creation,
the minute detail of your creation,
yet as the wise men learned,
we need a Word from you
to enable us to make sense of it!
As we gather to offer you praise and our attention,
enlighten our minds to the mystery of your grace
which brings your way of truth for living
to our consciousness
and leads us to an obedience of faith
through which your Spirit can testify
to the power of your plan for all the nations;
therefore we pray as our Lord taught us to pray:
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
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Merciful God, you have given light to the world in Jesus Christ,
but we have preferred to live in darkness.
Lord have mercy LORD HAVE MERCY
Your justice protects the weak and the distressed,
yet we seek the shelter of privilege and power.
Your righteousness redeems the poor and the needy,
yet we seek the status of wealth and possessions.
Christ have mercy. CHRIST HAVE MERCY
Your peace upholds the oppressed and the defenceless,
yet we seek the security of weapons and retribution.
Spirit have mercy SPIRIT HAVE MERCY
Forgive us our sins, and lead us to true repentance,
that we may trust you in all things;
through Jesus Christ we pray. AMEN.
Declaration of Reconciliation:
This is the good news:
Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God
in boldness and confidence through faith in him…
Christ is the light of the world,
who grants forgiveness and healing of our sins.
so we say with joy in our hearts THANKS BE TO GOD
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:
Sisters and brothers, in Jesus, God’s Word became flesh
to birth love in our hearts and peace in our world.
As we celebrate this gift of life in Christ,
let us pray for the church and the world saying,
O God of Love, DRAW US TOGETHER IN PEACE..
O LORD, Your messenger announces peace in shouts of breathless joy; drive out the warring ways of our world
and protect all who face danger this day
as you guide our feet to travel with the One who is your peace.
O God of Love, DRAW US TOGETHER IN PEACE.
Your Word comes with justice to rule the earth with fairness;
inspire the leaders of all nations and citizens of the world
to order our economic lives to promote dignity and equality
for all in your global household.
O God of Love, DRAW US TOGETHER IN PEACE
Mountains and rivers clap and sing as your Word makes all things new; awaken us to the damage we do to your world and mend our ways,
that all creation might breathe again the liveliness of your blessing.
O God of Love, DRAW US TOGETHER IN PEACE.
When shepherds met your newborn Christ
they eagerly ran to tell the news;
make us joyful messengers of your good news
who freely share your love in the world.
O God of Love, DRAW US TOGETHER IN PEACE.
In Jesus, your love takes on human form
to seek us out and guide us home;
may Christ be born afresh in us today;
his body was abused, bruised, broken,
as in so many different ways
our bodies and minds suffer as we age
and realise the pain in this world.
We pause to remember those known to us
- name aloud or in silence…
O God of Love, DRAW US TOGETHER IN PEACE
From your majesty on high to the lowliness of the stable,
your Word has power to sustain all things,
and through him we become your precious children;
comfort those who are hungry, sick, or suffering,
and in all our afflictions anoint us with the oil of gladness
as you visit us with your salvation.
O God of Love, DRAW US TOGETHER IN PEACE
Unto us a child is born this day, to live and die and rise again;
bless all who are born today and all who will die,
that your will for them may be fulfilled
in the one who is the way, truth, and life.
O God of Love, DRAW US TOGETHER IN PEACE.
O God, receive our prayers through Christ who is our glorious light.
May we, like him, shine forth like the sun in bodies,
breath, and beating hearts to sing your praise forevermore,
and as holy partners in a heavenly calling, dwell with you eternally.
Lord hear us LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER