Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Heavenly God, when life is hard, we lift our eyes to you
When our souls are heavy with the judgement of others,
When we feel pushed aside, or looked at with scorn,
We lift our eyes to you,
Knowing that you will bring love.

Brother Jesus, when life is hard, we lift our eyes to you,
When our souls are heavy with the world’s sorrows,
When we feel the pain of others,
and see those who are oppressed,
We lift our eyes to you,
Knowing that you will bring justice.

Empowering Spirit, when life is hard, we lift our eyes to you,
When our souls are heavy with responsibility,
When we feel overwhelmed with the work that lies before us,
We lift our eyes to you,
Knowing that you will bring peace.

Heavenly God, Brother Jesus, Empowering Spirit,
When we are blind to your goodness,
When we react with hatred and anger,
When we have lost our hope,
Have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us.

Heavenly God, Brother Jesus, Empowering Spirit,
Help us to know your presence,
Open our eyes to your kingdom in our midst
Set our sights on your vision for our world’s renewal.
Amen.

Sisters and Brothers, this is the good news:
God lifts up the lowly, and loves us beyond all measure.
Through Christ, our sin is forgiven.
Thanks be to God

Natalie Sims, offered for worship, 19/11

Prayers of the People

Miraculous creator,
we pray for the journeys we’re on as a nation,
as individuals and as communities.
We lift up our heartaches and body pains, o
ur feelings of exhaustion, of relief, of disappointment.

Our thoughts are with those
who continue to be marginalised for their identities,
which they love, the colour of their skin,
whether they are deemed threats.

We pray for pause.
We seek healing and clarity.
Help us to replenish our wells
with your unconditional love.
Help be open to the grace in
our communities and all of creation.

Divine healer, us to be energised
and ready for the hurdles to come,
and know that it is your incomprehensible joy,
that brought us all into being,
as children of a divine we can only know through the other.

As we seek solace and new life,
remind us that we are made in your image,
everyone of us reflecting a myriad
of diversity, creativity and wonder –
remind us to discover your crafting spirit within,
nurturing and celebrating this unique beauty in each other.

Anika Jensen, Meredith Budge, offered for worship 19/11