Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Watch or 6:51

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.

Nurturing God

You plant the seeds of faith, shine the sun of your love
and water us with joy, tears, laughter and wonder.
You nurture your garden as it grows, in unexpected places.
In fertile soil, through cracks in the concrete, amongst the rocks and sand.

Your voice speaks to us in the complexity and simplicity of your continuing creation.
You speak to us in the bush and in the bustling cities.
Forgive us when we don’t listen to your voice.

You speak to us in the voices of our Koori nations.
Forgive us when we ignore their wisdom.

You speak to us in the melting of ice flows, droughts, floods, fires,
and the extinction of animals.
Forgive us when we don’t pay attention.

You speak to us for the rough sleeper, huddled in the cold.

Forgive us when we have no compassion.

You speak to us with the voice of millions suffering in the pandemic.
Forgive us when we protect drug companies making millions.

You speak to us in the voices of refugees, abused women and children, people who are different in colour, race or gender.
Forgive us when we tell them to go back where they came from.

You speak to us in our Churches.
Forgive us when we close our hearts and only hear what is comfortable.

Nurturing God turn us upside down, shake our complacency, weed out our privilege,
and help us to see with your eyes, hear your living voice and make your garden grow.
In the name of the one who lived with us, and died for us,
Amen

Brothers, Sisters, family and garden of God.
Know that, undeserving though we are
In Christ
Through Christ,
Because of Christ,
Our sin is forgiven
Thanks be to God.

Helen Burnham, offered for worship 13/06/2021, Pentecost 3B
with Peter McKinnon, Julie McKinnon, Kirsty Bennett

SONG:  Be still, John L Bell & Graeme Maule © 1989 WGRG, Iona Community, from As one voice 2,
Willow Connection Pty Ltd, Reproduced with permission under ONE LICENCE # 604502,

Prayers of the people

Watch or 34:32

Today the Prayers of the People include a selection images.
I invite you to add your own, in your mind’s eye, as you offer your prayers with me.

Let us pray:

God of the vulnerable,
We pray for the people in the world, church and our community who are vulnerable:
For people who seek asylum (Biloela girls)
Who live with violence (Palestine bombing)
Who face devastation (natural disaster disaster)
Who face hardship (covid closed)

God who sees deeply,
We pray for the people in the world, church and our community who are not seen, who are not included:
We pray for First Nations people (Indig – voice from the heart?)
For people who are homeless (pic of street camp)
For people who live in aged care (aged care pic)
For people who live far from services and support (picture of distance/RFDS)

God of hope
We pray for the people in the world, church and our community who face situations that seem hopeless.  For places
Where disagreement and point scoring dominates (a scene of question time with pointing)
Where species are threatened (Australia)
Where habitat is destroyed (Amazon)
Where power is used to dominate and suppress (child abuse commission report)

Loving God,
You are with the vulnerable, you give hope and see beyond the surface.
May we be your ears as we listen to people’s stories,
May we be your eyes as we search for truth
May we be your hands as we work for justice,
May we be your voice as we speak out.

Amen.

Kirsty Bennett, offered for worship 13/06/2021, Pentecost 3B