Prayers

Let us be encouraged in our walk with God.
When we are faced with challenges,
when the way before us is dark,
when we are not sure what to do,
let us be assured that God is ready to bless us,
and to bring us through it all.
So come now to praise and to pray.

Lord, we come before you today,
knowing that you do not choose us
because we are clever or strong or powerful.
Rather, you call us to rely on your wisdom,
to fight in your strength,
and to boast that you are always there for us.
Help us to walk humbly with you
each step of the way before us.
And in our worship today,
give us fresh insight and renewed commitment
for that journey of faith.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.

Source of all wisdom,
source of all goodness,
we come into your presence today
to worship you.
May we choose justice, love kindness,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.

Creator God,
source of all life and all wisdom:
we adore you and boast in your love.

Christ crucified,
who walked humbly on this earth:
we adore you and boast in your love.

Holy Spirit,
who leads and guides our steps:
we adore you and boast in your love.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we adore you.
Amen.

A prayer of confession

Living Lord Jesus,
when we choose to live arrogantly,
let us choose to live meekly;
when we choose to be strong,
let us see strength in weakness and allow you to work in us;
when we only see darkness,
show us your light and give us hope;
when we would go it alone and rise above others,
let us choose unity;
when we favour popularity and success,
let us choose humility;
when we aspire to power,
let us choose servanthood and love.
We are sorry when we choose the opposite of your desires for us.
Forgive us and help us.
May we always choose kindness, humility, justice and love.
May we always choose to be like you.
Amen.

Assurance of forgiveness

God of justice and mercy, full of compassion,
you have gracefully forgiven us, allowing us to start again.
We are free through your cross.
We are forgiven in you and have new life.
Amen.

God of peace, justice, mercy and love,
thank you that in you we inherit the earth.
Thank you that we are your children.
Thank you that as we mourn, we are comforted.
Thank you that as we seek for righteousness, we are filled.
Thank you that in you we receive your mercy.
Thank you that we can see you through our changed hearts.
Thank you that in your upside-down kingdom,
we find rest, peace, comfort and assurance of your presence.
Thank you, Lord, that in life’s darker times, we are never alone –
You are always by our side.
Amen.

In humility and need, we gather our prayers for others.

God of justice and mercy,
hear our prayers.

Headline news shocks us with so much cruelty, tragedy and suffering that we barely know where to begin in our praying for those in need, but you, O God, do hear us.

God of justice and mercy,
hear our prayers.

For those who do not know you, who do not know the depths of your love and care, who live with poverty of spirit and understanding, confusion and denial of you. For them all, may your Spirit speak to them and may the deeds and the words and the actions of how we live, shine with your Spirt for them. For those who know you but know they fall short of what you call them to be, give them encouragement to strive more and learn more and believe more.

God of justice and mercy,
hear our prayers.

We pray for those who mourn, who have had their lives changed, turned upside down by the death of family friends or neighbours. In their grief may we and you be a comfort to them. A strength in times of trouble, a light to lead the way in their darkness.

God of justice and mercy,
hear our prayers.

We pray for those whose arrogance, pride and vanity stop them from seeing the truth about themselves and the needs of others. For those who do not know what humility is and where it might lead them.

God of justice and mercy,
hear our prayers.

We pray for those who daily, no matter what the cost to themselves, speak out your words of truth, who live lives reflecting your glory, who each day step-out to help and heal and care and show your love even in face of danger.

God of justice and mercy,
hear our prayers.

We pray for those who find it within them to forgive others who really repent, those who forgive for the good of others and society, those who show mercy and compassion.

God of justice and mercy,
hear our prayers.

We pray for those who work for peace, who strive for peace, who yearn for peace. Those who engage at the highest levels of state seeking peace and those who stand on the battlefield yearning for conflict to end and peace to be restored. For those caught in the middle, who fell helpless and hopeless in the face of war and aggression.

God of justice and mercy,
hear our prayers.

For those peoples whose tragedies, injustice, crisis and suffering make the news headlines today.

God of justice and mercy,
hear our prayers.

For our families, our friends, our neighbours, those we know and love and care for who need our prayers especially this day.

God of justice and mercy,
hear our prayers.

Hear our words, O God, and hear the yearnings of our hearts that we may walk humbly with you sharing love and generosity wherever we go.
In the name and for the sake of Jesus.
Amen.

Thank you, God,
that whether it is dark
(cover eyes)
or light
(open eyes wide)
we can still grow.
(reach hands up high)
Thank you that when things are difficult
(look at the ground)
and going very well
(jump up)
you bless us and help us.
(hug yourself)
Amen.

Lord, you bless us in so many ways.
You love us just as we are.
And you also want us to grow closer to you.
Show us how we can bless others
by putting them and you before ourselves.
May we walk humbly with you every day.
Amen.

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