Prayers of Adoration & Confession

God of all creation, with your breath and your love
you gave birth to all that is and ever will be.
You bring forth life from dust and chaos
naming, loving, celebrating all that you create.
You blessed us with the joyful task of
caring for and continuing the work of creating.
We confess that we find ourselves overwhelmed by
the destruction of your beautiful, glorious, abundant creation

Jesus teller of stories, with your words
you cut through to the heart of our dilemmas.
You bring forth truth from the hidden places
showing us how to love and be loving.
In your name we seek to love our neighbours
celebrating the abundant diversity that surrounds us.
We confess that too often your stories are not heard
and your call to love our neighbour is denied.

Holy Spirit, source of joy and inspiration
your breath of prayer sustains us in our living.
You inspire us to offer our creative gifts
giving expression to beauty, life and love.
Through you we give voice to our heartfelt desire
that everyone can be known and named and heard.
We confess that diversity is seen as a threat to be controlled
and creativity is not celebrated and given space.

Forgive us when we grow tired and weary
Hold us as we pray through our despair
into wholeness of life with you and all creation. Amen

God’s steadfast love shapes our living and creating.
Let us rejoice and be glad in this abundant gift.
Open your hearts and souls and minds and be assured
that in Christ’s name our sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God. Amen

Saide Cameron, offered for worship, 29/10

Prayers of the People

O Holy One, we thank you for the many people
who have followed your way of life joyfully:
for the many saints and martyrs, 
men and women
who have offered up their very lives
so that your life abundant may become manifest
and your kingdom may advance.
In the midst of trial, they held out hope;
in the midst of persecutions, they witnessed to your power;
in the midst of despair, they clung to your promise.
We thank you for the truth
they have learned and passed on to us.
Give us courage to follow their way of life.
For all the Saints in heaven and on earth:
 we pray peace.

We pray for the millions in our world who must go hungry today,
all who are exploited and marginalized
because of their caste or class, colour or sex,
that they may not lose their hope,
and may find the strength to struggle for their dignity.
For all the Saints in heaven and on earth:
 we pray peace.

We call upon you for those who are
persecuted, imprisoned, tortured
or threatened with death because of
their witness to justice and peace.
For those who have “disappeared”
because they dared to speak,
that their spirits may not be broken by their bodies’ pain.
For all the Saints in heaven and on earth:
 we pray peace.

We remember those who live in regions
torn by tension and war, by disaster, famine and poverty…
We pray for the millions of refugees around the world,
that in the midst of tears and bitterness
they may discern signs of hope.
For all the Saints in heaven and on earth:
 we pray peace.

Lord, into your hands we commend our earth,
ever-threatened with disaster,
and all persons and situations we have spoken about,
written down or remembered
in the silence of our hearts this day.
For all the Saints in heaven and on earth:
 we pray peace.

Strengthen our will for peace and justice;
increase our faith in your kingdom
where “love and faithfulness will meet,
righteousness and peace will embrace”
and may your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as 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 for ever. Amen.

Ian Ferguson, offered for worship, 29/10