Prayer of Praise: –  

(from Psalm 138: 1 to 8) 

I thank you LORD, with all my heart,

Boldly, O God, will I sing my praise to you.

I will praise you because of your constant love and faithfulness,

Because you have shown that your name and your commands are supreme.

You answered me when I called to you;

With your strength you strengthened me.

All the World’s Kings and Queens, all the Presidents and Prime Ministers, all the military and political and social and religious leaders, will inevitably bow down before you,

Because they will ultimately recognise the reality of your presence and acknowledge your rule and authority over all of Humanity.

They will sing about what you have done,

And about your great glory.

Even though you are so high above the Earth

You care for the lowly, and the proud cannot hide from you.

And though I walk in the midst of great roubles, you preserve my life.

You exert your power to save me from the rage and anger of those who seek to harm me.

You fulfill your purposes and accomplish everything that you promise.

Your true love, O LORD, endures for ever.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession 

(from Romans 12: 21) 

Merciful God, we come to you confessing our shortcomings and our weaknesses.

We come confessing the times when we have not followed your decrees, when we have not obeyed your instructions.

We are called to love others sincerely and with warmth.  Forgive us for when we have not shown respect or concern to those whom you love so dearly.

Merciful God, hear our prayer.

We are called to hate what is evil and to hold on to what is good.  Forgive us for when we drift away from what is good towards those things that we should avoid.

Merciful God, hear our prayer.

We are called to let our hope in you keep us joyful and to be patient in our troubles.  Forgive us for when we despair and do not lay our burdens at the foot of the cross.

Merciful God, hear our prayer.

We are called to share the material things with which you have blessed us with those who

are in need.  Forgive us for putting ownership of things before relieving the suffering of others.

Merciful God, hear our prayer.

We are called to live humble lives and to humbly serve others.  Forgive us for when our pride or our concern for our self-image obstructs our serving of others.

Merciful God, hear our prayer.

We are called to do everything possible to live in peace with everyone.  Forgive us for when we seek to repay a wrong, or to take revenge when we are wronged, or to hold onto grudges.

Merciful God, hear our prayer.

We come before you God confessing our wilful disobedience to you and for following the standards of this World.

Merciful God, forgive our sins and cleanse of all that stains our life and impures our soul.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(based on Matthew 16: 21) 

Jesus informed his Disciples that he was going to Jerusalem to be put to death, but that three days later he will be raised to life, reminding them of God’s great mercy and gift of salvation for Humanity.  Having confessed our sins before God, we have the faith that God, in His great mercy and grace, has heard our prayer, has forgiven our sins, and has cleansed us in His sight.

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 suffering for the sake of the Gospel,

that you will protect and sustain those who risk their lives to bring the Gospel message or medical care to those in difficult or distant places.

We pray for all who are discouraged by the burdens of life,

that your compassionate love will renew their hearts and lead them through their struggles.

We pray for all who live amidst civil discord and conflict,

that you will break the cycle of violence, heal the divisions that exist within the civic community, and protect the innocent.

We pray for all recovering from storms, floods, and wildfires,

that you will ease their suffering, give them strength, and help them to find the resources that they need to rebuild their homes and lives.

We pray that public figures in our Parliaments and Councils may respect the human dignity of each other,

so that they will find ways to address the real issues of our world and of our nation without denigrating the character or intent of another person.

We pray for those who are starving or malnourished,

that you will remove the bureaucratic barriers the block food distribution, help people to more aware of hunger around them, and come to the aid of those who lack food, particularly children.

We pray for the Church,

that the fire of the Holy Spirit will embolden us to give witness to God and to courageously follow the example of Jesus.

Copyright © 2023. Joe Milner. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use. – https://liturgy.slu.edu/22OrdA090323/ideas_other.html

Father God, creator and sustainer, we thank you for nurturing us. We praise you that your care and protection surround us. On this Fathering Sunday, we remember all the people who have nurtured us, especially the important men in our lives, those who have seen, not just with their eyes, but with their heart.

We remember fathers, whose families are torn apart by jealousy, fighting and misunderstandings.
We remember fathers who are older, but who still bear the responsibility of raising children and grandchildren.  And we remember fathers who mean well, but make mistakes.

We remember fathers who are unable to support their children, and are forced into unimaginable decisions, who have to sell a child into marriage or human trafficking in order to feed his other children.

We remember men who, because of various circumstances, are unable to become fathers.  We remember fathers who have adopted children and fathers who given up their rights as fathers.

We remember fathers who rejoice in the achievements of their children, who joyfully watch a new generation take hold.  We remember fathers who are single parents, who through personal sacrifice and perseverance provide a loving home for their children.

We remember fathers who helplessly watch their children suffer and die from malnutrition because of famine, drought, flood, or war.  We pray for the fathers where recent disasters have occurred and those taking their children in hope onto the high seas.  We remember fathers whose children are sick or disabled and who will try anything to cure or help them.

We pray for fathers and their children around the world caught in the terrors of violence and living in fear — in Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, Sudan, Sub-Saharan Africa.  We weep with the fathers of those who inflict violence on others.

Nurturing God, thank you for those who have nurtured us.  Open our eyes to the plight of so many fathers and mothers around the world for whom life is difficult.  Help us share your love and mercy with them.

Father God, in your mercy, hear our prayers for fathers around the world.  Amen.

Prayer of Intercession for Father’s Day

Mother Father God, creator and sustainer, we thank you for nurturing us like a mother. We praise you that your care and protection surround us like a father. On this Fathering Sunday, we remember all the people who have nurtured us, especially the important men in our lives, those who have seen, not just with their eyes, but with their heart. Hear our prayer for fathers around the world.
Mother Father God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We remember fathers, whose families are torn apart by jealousy, fighting and misunderstandings.
We remember fathers who are older, but who still bear the responsibility of raising children and grandchildren. And we remember fathers who mean well, but make mistakes.
Mother Father God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We remember fathers who are unable to support their children, and are forced into unimaginable decisions, who have to sell a child into marriage or human trafficking in order to feed his other children.
Mother Father God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We remember men who, because of various circumstances, are unable to become fathers. We remember fathers who have adopted children and fathers who given up their rights as fathers.
Mother Father God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We remember fathers who rejoice in the achievements of their children. Who joyfully watch a new generation take hold. We remember fathers who are single parents, who through personal sacrifice and perseverance provide a loving home for their children.
Mother Father God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We remember fathers who helplessly watch their children suffer and die from malnutrition because of famine, drought, flood or war. We pray for the fathers where recent disasters have occurred and those taking their children in hope onto the high seas. We remember fathers whose children are sick or disabled and who will try anything to cure or help them.
Mother Father God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for fathers and their children around the world caught in the terrors of violence and living in fear — in Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan. We weep with the fathers of those who inflict violence on others..
Mother Father God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Nurturing God, thank you for those who have nurtured us. Open our eyes to the plight of so many fathers and mothers around the world for whom life is difficult. Help us share your love and mercy with them.
Mother Father God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the silence of this moment, hear the prayers of our hearts. [pause]
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Merciful God, Mother and Father of us all, honour our prayers, spoken and unspoken, humbly lifted to you in faith.

We pray for the peoples of Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal.

We are thankful for the many ways in which these countries have moved beyond their colonial histories, especially the scars related to slave trade, for this area’s distinctive music and cultural practices of storytelling (griots), for economic and educational advances that have lifted some out of poverty, for promising transitions into democracy and changes in government leaders, and for the persistent, faithful witness of churches in the midst of other faiths.

We pray for those people in these societies who continue to live in abject poverty, for an end to policies, systems, and cultural practices that continue to exploit and marginalize some groups, for the fair election of more just government leaders who respect the rights of all people, and for faith communities witnessing and working together for the common good.

Prayer for The Gambia

Lord, grant our leaders the qualities of leadership they need to stride securely through our times, and on the hard-fought path of life give them a generous portion of the grace they need to lead us with a sincere heart and with wisdom.

May the difficult sacrifices we joyfully make for the development of our country reach up to you as a living plea to lavish kindness, faithfulness and power and keep watch over our land.

Lord, let us believe in your power to bring all people together and let no one deprive us of this song of unity.  Let us form the great image of the human person and community among us which fulfils your will.

We pray for peace and unity in our homeland, that we may be able to live as one family working for the betterment of our nation and her people.  We pray for all those who have to witness to their faith in situations where they are ridiculed, threatened and persecuted:

that they may find in you, Lord, the courage they need.

(Prayer submitted by the Most Rev. Michael J. Cleary CSSp, Bishop of Banjul.)

Prayer from Senegal

Lord, hear my prayer of peace and forgiveness!

Lord God, forgive the white slave-traders of Europe and over the seas!  They hunted our children like wild elephants.  They caught them, tied them up, whipped them and soiled their hands with their blood.

Bless my people, Lord, those who seek their own faces under the threat of being recognized. May they continue to seek you in spite of the cold and famine that eats at their very bones, at their very insides.  The woman who laments her absent husband, the fiancée her lost love, the mother her dead son, bless those who have lost loved ones, may we all unite under your love.

With your help, may all the people of Europe, Asia, Africa, and all who have sweated blood and suffering look beyond and see the haloed heads of my people. Extend a warm handshake to them so that we may all interlace our fingers to belt the earth in fraternal love.

(Excerpted from “Prayer for Peace and Brotherhood”, Sedar Senghor, president of Senegal, 1960-81. Hallelujah for the Day, ed. Anthony Gittins, Liguori/Triumph, Ligouri MO, USA, 2002, p.103.)

(https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/cape-verde-the-gambia-guinea-guinea-bissau-senegal)

Despite the focus of some organisations on Bible engagement, – especially amongst young people – are declining. 

We pray for the work of the Bible Society in Northern Ireland as they work across denominations with the Bible, and other engagement resources, to raise the levels of Biblical literacy and help bring more unity to Christians and society.

We pray for the work of the Bible Society in Jordan in cooperation with local churches with their programs to reach out to refugee families from Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and underprivileged Jordanian families, with practical support, basic needs, and the word of God.  

We pray for the work of the Bible Society in the South Pacific as they progress with two new Bible translations and two Bible revisions in the Tongan language, the priority being the completion of the Tongan Contemporary Bible, which will meet the needs of the younger generations, as the translation uses today’s Tongan language.

(https://www.biblesociety.org.au/our-work/#projects)

We pray for the new fortnightly SUPA Club / Youth Group that’s started up at the Salvation Army in New Norfolk, Tasmania, that through SU’s partnership with local churches young people will be blessed.

We pray Scripture Union International’s Bible Engagement Marketplace Event on Tuesday giving SU people around the world a chance to share excellent Bible 5 engagement materials.

We pray for the SU team in the ACT as they prepare for Zone 40 Adventure Camp and Noisy Forest Camp happening at the end of this month.  We pray for the leaders, campers and all who are involved in making these camps possible.

We pray for the Camps and Missions team in VIC as they prepare to run New Team Member Training next week, that God would infuse these individuals with his energy and passion for sharing the good news with children, young people and families.

We pray for the Redland City Mayoral Pastoral Breakfast happening on Friday morning, for your blessing and inspiring for the local teachers, church leaders and community government representatives who will be gathering to speak about and pray over the impact of school chaplaincy in this region.

We pray for the Fairfield Evangelical Association of Scripture Teaching Supporters afternoon tea happening in Western Sydney on Saturday, that this gathering is encouraging and productive for all who attend.

(SU Prayer-Guide-SEP-2023-SEQLD.pdf)

We pray that for an accountant to be employed by The Leprosy Mission Sudan, who can help with financial reporting.  

We pray for the small team of TLM Sudan, that you can give them wisdom when they deal with partners like the Ministry of Health, and the Humanitarian Affairs Commission.  

We pray for an end to the bloodshed in Sudan, so that patients are able to access the clinics without of road blocks or financial issues, and for enhanced safety of our teams. 

We pray that they and their families can continue to attend church safely.

We pray for patients who are being diagnosed with leprosy for the first time and need to receive treatment, as well as patients who require follow[1]up for reactions, wounds, and other leprosy complications.  

We pray for your support for patients who struggle to access healthcare elsewhere because of the stigma surrounding leprosy.  

We pray for the training offered to the many doctors in Sudan who are not aware of leprosy and other Neglected Tropical Diseases.  

We pray for the success of the dermatology clinic that operates every Thursday.

(The%20Leprosy%20Mission%20Prayer%20Diary%202023.pdf)

We pray for those who undertake Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School this year.  Guide them in the words to say and the approach to take with the children in their classes.  May the Holy Spirit challenge the children in the RI classes to come to a closer relationship with you.

We pray for Kylie Conomos, the Scripture Union Chaplain at Bald Hills State School.  Please guide and equip her as she seeks to address the concerns and needs of children, parents and teachers at the school.

Lord God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your lovingkindness.  To your glory we pray.

Amen.