Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Watch or 8:00

God of wilderness journeys
Jesus, light of the world
Spirit of life,

You show us the way
In the midst of the wilderness
When all seems lost
You are there.
It is not just wilderness, but wilderness and hope, wilderness and life.

You hear our cries
You know our frustrations
You understand our doubts
You listen to our prayers and offer us a different future.

In the face of the cross
You show us what love is
You shine a light on the world
Bringing new life and guiding us to what is true.

Song: Lament – BUC Song project – Verse 1

Why do we listen and fail to hear?
Why do we see and not perceive?
We have turned away and our heart has grown dull
Heal us, help us to grieve
Heal us, help us to grieve

Ooh… Ooh… Oh… Oh…
Ooh… Ooh… Oh… Oh…

Forgive us when we do not see you,
When we do not see the way you set before us,
when we live without hope.

Forgive us when we complain,
When we are frustrated and doubt.
When we do not see your future.

Forgive us when we look away from the cross
Turning our back on love
and the light and new life that you give to us all.

Song: Lament – BUC Song project – verse 2

 Why do we listen and fail to hear?
Why do we see and not perceive?
We have turned away and our heart has grown dull
Heal us, help us believe
Heal us, help us believe

Ooh… Ooh… Oh… Oh…
Ooh… Ooh… Oh… Oh…

SONG:  Lament, by Shawn Whelan, 2013, written for the BUC Boundless Plains series.
Used with permission under ONE LICENCE # 604502

God is with us in our wilderness
and journeys with us
bringing light and life.

And so we know that
Our sin is forgiven
Thanks be to God.

Kirsty Bennett, offered for worship 14/3/21, Lent 4B

Prayers of the people

Watch or 49:51

What a swirling tumult it has been this past year!
The past week
The past day

We have been caught up in a storm
Tossed around by changes, and challenges,
Wandering and bewildered.

Today we seek to sit with you on solid ground
To feel the earth beneath our feet
To shed the burdens and wrappings of the last year
To emerge anew, unwrapped
To feel your presence on our skin.

For leaders we pray clear sight
Open hearts
For them to let go of the past
To lead with wisdom and compassion.

For the church we pray open hands
Letting go of the sorrows we have carried over the past year
Rejuvenated and ready to take on
The challenges before us.

For our community we pray
Our distresses eased
Our turmoil calmed
Time to stop, and breathe, and wonder.

In Jesus’ name we pray
Amen

Simone Alesich, offered for worship 14/3/21, Lent 4B