Prayer of Praise: –   

  Almighty and eternal God, the Universe speaks of your greatness beyond our comprehension, the Universe reveals your limitless wisdom and foresight.  At your command Creation listens and obeys.  We are so utterly small and insignificant in comparison, yet you are beside us, caring for us, supporting us.  We give you our thanks and praise.

  When Jesus was baptised and your Holy Spirit descended from Heaven and alighted upon him, you revealed to the World that he was your beloved Son, and that you had blessed him and had empowered him for his ministry on Earth.  Jesus identified himself with our sin and showed us your gracious forgiveness, symbolised in the cleansing waters of baptism.  We give you our thanks and praise.

  You acknowledged Jesus as your only son, but, as well, we acknowledge that you have graciously adopt us as your children, to your honour and glory.  You are the source of our life, given so freely and abundantly.  You are the source of Light for Humanity and for our salvation.  In what and in whom then shall we fear?  You are the source of our courage and our strength, there is nothing then that we can want.  For your grace is sufficient for all of our Human weaknesses.  We give you our thanks and praise.

  Most glorious God, we worship you for who you are, the Creator God.  We worship you because you sustain us and give us life.  We worship you for what you have so powerfully demonstrated to the World, your love and grace and mercy, given to us so richly yet so undeserved, given to us so freely yet so unmerited.  Almighty and eternal God, to you alone we give all of our thanks and our praise, to the glory of your name forever.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession   

Merciful God, we look at ourselves in your light and see all of our faults and our transgressions.  We feel so despondent when we realise how we have disappointed you in so many ways.  We hear the echo of your voice in the majesty of your Creation. 

But we also hear the sound of your grief at how we have despoiled what you have given to us, at the many ways that we have so wantonly used and wasted what you have provided.  We come humbly seeking your forgiveness.

We have experienced your comfort in many ways,

but we have become so inward looking and so involved in our own lives that we neglect to sympathise with those who are going through times of stress and strain, who feel that life has become so difficult that they cannot cope.  We come humbly seeking your forgiveness.

We take pride in what we can accomplish and achieve, and are all too quick to take offence at what someone may say about us, all too ready to reject criticism, all too unwilling to listen to advice. 

We feel that our worth is at stake without understanding that what is of most value is being able to walk humbly with you.  We come humbly seeking your forgiveness.

We confess with sorrow that we abuse your blessings, and fail to meet our obligations to family and friend and neighbour. 

We have not demonstrated the nature of generosity that is your image in which we have been created.  We say that we love outwardly, but in reality only love inwardly.  We come humbly seeking your forgiveness.

Merciful God, strengthen us to acknowledge your Son as our Lord and to walk with him on the path of obedience. 

May we always seek to live as your faithful children, may we always seek to be empowered by you to be the people that you want us to be.  May we be an example for the World that people need no longer live in darkness but can live in the light of your grace and forgiveness.  To your glory we pray.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

(from Ephesians 2: 13) 

The Apostle Paul writes that God has brought us near to Him through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.  Having confessed our sins before God, let us trust this assurance from God that He has listened to our prayer and has forgiven us.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others

Almighty God, we bring to you our prayers for all those who are exhausted and need rest,

for those suffering from long term illness, for those who are working on the frontline in hospitals or emergency service personnel and who need time to rest and recover.

We pray this New Year for all those who need clean water to live and thrive,

for those who are suffering because their water supplies are polluted by flooding, or are diminishing from the effects of drought.

We pray today for all who need Your guidance and who need to hear Your voice this New Year.

We ask that we might enable us to be the conduits of Your light and wisdom in our communities and churches.  Let us be the ones to plant harmony and reconciliation deeply within the Earth.  Lead us to bear witness to friends and neighbours in this community.  Fill our words and manner of life with the convincing power of your Spirit.

As the prophet Isaiah rang out, “Arise, shine; for your light has come”;

so empower your Church, to ring out the Good News of the Light of your son Jesus, which pierces even the deepest darkness of sin and despair.

As a star rose high into the nighttime sky to draw the nations to the Christ-child; so send your blessing, O God, on every nation, and draw the whole World to your peace and truth.

May peacetime grow in our day, in every nation under heaven.  May people devastated by war find strength from people who understand compassion and love.

As John the Baptist guided throngs of people on the edge of the wilderness, and baptized Jesus in the River Jordan,

we pray that you would guide our country and our leaders to the ways of justice and righteousness.

As Jesus climbed the mountaintop, and proclaimed blessings on the people of the World;

we pray for healing and wholeness for the sick and the distressed, people suffering

physical diminishment, those who are bedridden, those who live in pain, the poor and the lame.  Please bring gifts of calm and comfort in their nighttime restlessness.  May our presence instil courage for all who are alone in darkness and fear.

We pray for truthfulness within our Church.

May false power be replaced with humble love for all people under heaven.  May God’s truth be revealed in our common prayer and tender service toward others.

May those who suffer because they have named you as Lord be strengthened to endure every temptation.

Give courage, insight, and loving patience to those who have left their own people to proclaim the Gospel to those yet unreached.

Just as the Magi came bearing gifts to the Christ Child, so may we offer ourselves to our Lord.

Lead us, Lord, to nurture and share our gifts with the World around us.  Through the tasks laid before us today, may the message of your grace fall on an ear that needs to hear it.

Lord Jesus, Light of the World, hear our prayers, and make us reflections of your Light, that the places of darkness in our world would be pierced by your Light, and that all nations would be drawn to you to repent of their errors, to strive for righteous living, and, thus, to be overwhelmed with joy.

(https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly-worship/monthly/2024-january/7-january)

The Epiphany of the Lord, January 7, 2024, Cycle B, The Prayers of the Faithful

The Leprosy Mission Prayer

Almighty Father, the giver of life and health, look mercifully on those who suffer from leprosy.  Stretch out your hand to touch and heal them as Jesus did during his earthly life.  Grant wisdom and insight to those who are seeking the prevention and cure of the disease.  Give skill and sympathy to those who minister to the patients.  Reunite the separated with their family and friends.  And inspire your people with the task set before The Leprosy Mission, that it may never lack the staff nor the means to carry on its healing work, in accordance with your will, and to the glory of your holy name.  We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.

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

We pray for the peoples of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine.

We are thankful for lands and monuments sacred in the origins of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, for those who unceasingly work for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land, for the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, and for those who continue to welcome the multitudes of refugees in their lands.

We pray for ending the violence racking this region, that the people might live together in peace, security and respect for each other, for those who have grown weary and disillusioned in searching for solutions, for an end to religious differences being exploited to perpetuate conflict and further displacement of people, and for political leaders who will courageously bring about justice and reconciliation for the sake of all.

A Prayer for Jerusalem

O God of Sarah and Abraham, our tears are mixed with yours, weeping for the cities in the world.

We weep for the holy cities and especially for Jerusalem:
where brothers and sisters kill each other,
where hatred feeds and nourishes anger,
where animosity blinds mercy,
where religions divide,
as children learn to hate and the elderly nurse old grudges.

We see, and we grieve;
and yet we have not loved the things that make for peace.

We weep for oppressed cities, and in particular for Jerusalem:
where rigid laws imprison freedom,
where thinking is confined and conscience is abated,
where those who question are branded as traitors,
where creativity and righteousness are beaten,
where pluralism is chained.

We weep for all cities, and for Jerusalem.
We see and we grieve;
and yet we have not learned the things that make for peace.

Teach us to walk the way that leads to life.
Transform our grief into determination, our tears into action,
and our acts into a just peace.  Amen.

(From “Jerusalem: The City of Justice and Peace,“ a worship liturgy prepared by Palestinian theologians and laity for World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel 2013, available at www.worldweekforpeace.org; adapted)

An excerpt from the Coptic anaphora

O King of peace, give us your peace,
establish for us your peace, and forgive us our sins.
Bless us all, purify our hearts.
Heal the sickness, of our souls and our bodies.
We worship you, O Christ, with your good Father,
and the Holy Spirit, for you have come to save us.
Have mercy on us.

(Coptic hymn in the form of prayer from the Coptic Anaphora)

A prayer by Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy

Eternal God, Creator of the universe, there is no God but you.
Great and wonderful are your works, wondrous are your ways.
Thank you for the many splendored variety of your creation.
Thank you for the many ways we affirm your presence and purpose,
Thank you for the freedom to do so.
Forgive our violation of your creation.
Forgive our violence toward each other.
We stand in awe and gratitude at your persistent love
for each and all of your children: Christian, Jew, Muslim,
as well as those with other faiths.
Grant to all our leaders attributes of the strong;
mutual respect in word and deed, restraint in the exercise of power,
and the will for peace with justice for all.
Eternal God, Creator of the Universe, there is no God but you.  Amen.

(Excerpted from Current Dialogue 24/93, p.36)

(https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/egypt-israel-jordan-lebanon-palestine)

We pray for the Summer camps Scripture Union will be running in partnership with the Anglican diocese and embracing ministries for the first time.

We pray for St Helens Beach Mission, in Tasmania, run from Jan 8-12, for the new team leaders Paul and Lisa Hobby and their brand new team.

We pray for the Camp Coolamatong Interns who will arrive from around Australia and around the world on Sunday 7^th January, to commence their training on Jan 15-Feb 2.  We pray that they will settle in quickly and be a blessing to each other, staff and campers as the year unfolds.

We pray for the students in Western Sydney feeling disconnected as their usual school support network isn’t available during their summer break.  We pray that Teachers and Chaplains will rest well and prepare for term 1.

We pray for Family Camp North run from Jan 18-22.  We pray for the new team leader, Janine Targett, and a special blessing to all the families who will attend.

We pray for the Ubertweak Summer camp running at Mt Tamborine during Jan 14-19.  We pray for fine weather, that the recent damage will be mended, and that the time will be a blessing for those who attend.

(Bald%20Hills/2024/SU%20SEQ-Prayer-Guide-DEC23-FEB24.pdf)

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.  Amen.