Prayers for the week commencing Sunday 6th February 2022

Servicing the Bald Hills and nearby Communities

Prayers for the week commencing Sunday 6th February 2022

Prayer of Praise  

(based on Psalm 138: 1 to 8) 

I thank you, LORD, with all my heart; I praise you my God.

I worship you and give thanks because of your constant love and faithfulness, because you have shown that you are supreme.

You answered me when I called to you; with your strength you strengthened me.

All the kings in the World will praise you, LORD, because they have heard your promises.

They will sing about what you have done and about your great glory.

Even though you are so high above, you care for the lowly, and the proud cannot hide from you.

When I am surrounded by troubles, you keep me safe.  You save me by your power.

LORD, you will do everything you have promised, your love is eternal.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession   

Merciful God, we come before you repentant for our failings and our wantonness in departing from your chosen way for us.

Forgive us when we fail to respond to your call with faith.

Forgive us when we are shackled by our narrow understandings of discipleship and our clouded sense of purpose.

Forgive us when we are frightened of the future or pull back from the demand of your calling.

Forgive us when we fail to sense your presence in our past, to acknowledge your grace in the present moment, and to trust you for our future.

You have shown us that your Love is patient; yet, Lord, we are known more for our quick-temperedness: Lord, have mercy.

You have shown that your Love is kind; yet, Lord, we are known more for our indifference towards others: Lord, have mercy.

You have shown us that your Love is not envious; we are known more for our petty jealousies: Lord, have mercy.

You have shown us that your Love is not boastful; we are known more for our pretentiousness: Lord, have mercy.

You have shown us that your Love is not arrogant; we are known more for our opinionated views: Lord, have mercy.

You have shown us that your Love does not insist on getting its own way; we are known more for our false sense of our own importance: Lord, have mercy.

You have shown us that your Love is not irritable; we are known more for our resentful behaviour: Lord, have mercy.

You have shown us that your Love does not rejoice in wrong-doing; we are known more for our rejoicing in all the wrong things: Lord, have mercy.

May you show us mercy, Merciful God, forgiving our sins and leading us to a life that lasts.  To your glory and honour we pray.  Amen.

re:Worship: Epiphany 3 C (re-worship.blogspot.com)  re:Worship: Epiphany 4 C (re-worship.blogspot.com)

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from Hebrews 2: 14 & 17) 

The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews tells us that it was through the death of Jesus that people’s sins would be forgiven.  Let us put our faith in this truth and put our trust in the assurance that, having confessed our sins before God, He has listened to our prayers and has forgiven us.

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 be attentive to your invitation and allow Jesus to draw our attention away from our fear and limits so that we can respond to all that you ask.

We pray for the growth of faith, that the dying and rising of Christ may be the foundation of our lives and inspire all our words, deeds, and desires.

We pray for a greater recognition of our poverty, that your Spirit will help us acknowledge how much we need you, free us to ask for your help, and open us to receive your wisdom and insight.

We pray for the grace to deeply listen, that we may follow Christ away from the noise and demands of daily life and enter the silent depths of our hearts where we can hear your words of life and love.

We pray for all who lead others to you, particularly ministers, pastors, and evangelists, that you will inspire their words, open hearts in people to heed their words, and help many to encounter Christ.

We pray for all who are discerning your call or beginning a new commitment, that you will free them from fear, guide them along the path to life, and help them to trust that you will provide all that they need in life.

We pray for an ever-deepening conversion of heart, that the Holy Spirit will help us discover our misdirection, guide us in practicing the teachings of Christ, and lead us greater faith, stronger hope, and deeper love.

We pray for all who feel unwelcome or unworthy before you, that your unconditional love may heal and free them so that they may live in the freedom of the children of God.

We pray for all who are ill, that you will heal the sick, lift the burden of those with mental illness, inspire healthcare providers with insights, and give strength to their families.

We pray for all who are suffering, that you will protect communities from violence, bring relief to those facing starvation or drought, guide those who are facing the power of nature.

We pray that you will bless and protect those most vulnerable in our Society, the babies, parents with few of the World’s goods, the aged and the infirm, that you will be their strength and help in time of need.

We pray for all participating in the Olympic Games, that they may celebrate the athletic gifts that you have given them and promote a spirit of respect and understanding within the Human family.

We pray for the leaders of our Governments and Councils, grant them sound judgement, a strong ethical stance, and the courage not just to do what is right, but to do what is necessary to alleviate want and need.

We pray for peace, that you will inspire those working to reduce tension in Eastern Europe, bring forth new understanding of one another’s concerns, and open new paths for justice and respect.

Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved.<br> Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use. – https://liturgy.slu.edu/

[Raymond Chapman in Leading Intercessions p10, David Hostetter in Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year C p49]

We pray for the peoples of Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Western Sahara, Tunisia, for an end to political violence, and an end to how dominating powers have fought over these lands and their resources through the years.  We pray for those suffering exploitation and mistreatment as they travel through these countries, that you will protect them and guide them onto safe and secure pathways.  We pray for the tiny remnant of Christians, who continue bearing witness to their faith and for their good will for all people.  May they be your light even in the face of discrimination and oppression.

(https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/algeria-libya-morocco-western-sahara-tunisia)

We pray that national Governments may raise their awareness of the costs to their communities and to their countries for their lack of action to alleviate tropical diseases such as leprosy.  May governments strive to eradicate leprosy and the suffering that it causes.  We pray that local communities and villages may realise that leprosy is completely treatable and no longer a life sentence of isolation and being shunned.  We pray that those who have leprosy will no longer be feared wherever they go nor that they will be marked with the stigma of someone to be avoided and rejected.

(Leprosy Mission 2022 Prayer Diary.pdf)

We pray for Alan and Myril Frankham and their ministry with Church of the Outback.  Bless and support them as they seek to foster Christian fellowship in remote communities and cattle stations in central Australia.  We thank you that Scripture Union have offered the use of their telephone conference calling system for the holding of worship services on Sunday mornings.  May this be a successful avenue through which Alan and Myril can keep in touch with those in their ‘church’.

(https://www.suqld.org.au/blog/category/prayer/#bringing-fellowship-to-the-outback )

We pray for the efforts of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in providing building material for the repair to homes and village structure damaged by the recent tsunami, and communal water tanks for providing fresh water to communities.  We thank you for their foresight in stocking these items in their warehouse, and pray that you will bless their efforts and those of the local chaplains who strive to deal with the mental and spiritual anguish of those who have suffered loss and grief.

(https://unitingworld.org.au/update-from-the-tonga-disaster-response/ )

We pray for those who will recommence 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 starts a new school year, and as she seeks to address the concerns and needs of children, parents and teachers at the school.

We pray for the members of the Tongan Congregation, that they will not lose contact with each other in spite of not being able to hold weekly services.  Please keep them in good health and may they be able to recommence worship services soon.

We pray for the members of the Chinese Church who meet in our church building, may they not lose contact with each other in spite of not being able to hold weekly services.  Please keep them in good health and may they be able to recommence worship services soon.

We pray for the members of our Congregation, that we will maintain our sense of fellowship and service, though we are unable to meet together in person at this present time.  Please keep us in good health.  Please guide us as to how to serve you in new ways as we experience the current restrictions on social contact and movement.  Please bless our worship as we follow each service on our computer screens or as we read the printed copy.

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.

Hymn

“Christ liveth in me”  Alexander’s Hymns No.3 number 208

[there is a short introduction]

James McGranahan

Benediction 

(from Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year C p48)  

We hear the voice of God calling each of us to be his mouthpiece.  May we be willing to put aside all of our other priorities in order to follow God wherever He may lead and guide us, in His service.

And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Benediction Song

“By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered”  TiS617

[sung to the tune Finlandia – only the one verse to be sung – there is a short introduction]

Verse 1 of 1

By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered,

And confidently waiting come what may,

We know that God is with us night and morning

And never fails to greet us each new day.

We shall remember all the days we live through,

All of our life before our God we lay.

Dietrich Bonhoffer

Translated by Frederick Pratt Green