Prayers

Opening Prayer (based on Psalm 65:1-13)

What mighty praise belongs to You, O God,
for Your acts of love and faithfulness toward us!

In Your mercy You hear our prayers,
You forgive our sins,
You provide for our needs.

From one end of the earth to the other,
You inspire worship and praise!
Even nature celebrates Your goodness.

We, too, would offer our praise and thanksgiving
for Your mercy and Your faithful love toward us.
Receive our adoration,
our confession,
our thanksgiving.

Through the power of Your Holy Spirit
make Your presence known among us
that we may hear Your Word and know Your will.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray.

Amen.

~ Christine Longhurst

Intergenerational Prayer for the Offering

God of all creation,
Thank you for the wonderful things you have made.
Thank you for the universe full of stars and planets.
Thank you for our world, full of life.
Thank you for making each one of us.
Thank you for loving each one of us.
Take these gifts we now offer back to you.
May they be used to the glory of your name.
We offer you ourselves and all the gifts you have blessed us with.
Take us and use us to share your love with the world.

Amen.

~ posted on the Diocese of Bath and Wells website.
http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/

Prayer of Confession

Gracious Creator,
you have given us so much,
but too often we take those gifts for granted,
or as something to which we are entitled.

You call us to live in caring community,
but too often we place our wants and needs first,
with those of others a distant second.

You call us to share Your gifts with the world around us,
but we are worried that there may not be enough,
and our worrying gets in the way of our sharing.

For all the times when we mistreat and misuse Your gifts,
for all the times we assume that we get what we have by ourselves,
forgive us and lead us back to the path of wisdom.

…time of silent prayer…

God is a gracious giver.
God is gracious in forgiveness.
God calls us to new patterns and new life.
We are a forgiven people!
Thanks be to God!

Amen.

~ written by Rev Gord, and posted on Worship Offerings.
http://worshipofferings.blogspot.ca/

Prayers of the People

Ever faithful Lord,
Ever giving Son,
Ever present Spirit,
For the many gifts you grant us
and the opportunity to enjoy these things;
For your daily provision
and for the constant signs of your healing love;
For the hope amidst despair
and the light which always shines;
For all these things,
‘thank you’ is just so inadequate
but it’s all we have:
… to show our gratitude in word, in thought and in action.

So thank you, Lord
and may our thanks move beyond words
to transform us into thankful folk,
faithful folk,
seeing folk,
folk who see need and see the need to act,
folk who love to live and live to love,
folk who serve you by serving others.

Help us to be amongst those
who include the excluded
and bring in those who are marginalized,
that when the opportunities come our way
to be healers of division and hurt,
to be peacemakers
and restorers,
we won’t be found wanting.

Loving, personal Father,
We bring before you those people and issues that are closest to us
and that occupy our minds at this time …
(personal and local intercessions could follow)

Mighty, wonderful Father,
we bring before you people and issues from around our world,
including those we’ll never know personally
but who remain our sisters and brothers in you …
(national and global intercessions could follow)

Transforming, healing Father,
help us to make the light shine in dark places,
to make peace known in violent places,
and to bring hope to despondent places.
Our prayers, spoken and silent
are brought to you now
(along with these gifts that we freely give
and dedicate to the work of your Kingdom)
in the name of your Son, Jesus,
the healer, includer and redeemer, forever.

Amen.

~ written by Rev Iain MacDonald. Posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.
http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/