Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Watch or 9:03

Today Jesus says, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people”

This is the net of the gospel spread to encompass the life of the world with peace and draw it into loving communion with God.

Caught in it are:

Image 1: Green leaves– representing the eternal source of all life
Image 2: Feather – representing spirit breath of wisdom, healing, compassion, communion, that which inspires and unites with God
Image 3: Cross – representing the story of Jesus, death and resurrection, reconciling passion, justice and peace, the way we are called to follow, eternal life with God

Let us pray:

Green leaves
Focus on heartbeat

Our hearts overflow with praise
for you, Eternal One.
Like a leaf unfurls rich and green,
drawing sustenance from earth
and life from the sun,
so we grow to wholeness in you.

Feather
Focus on breath

Our hearts overflow with praise
for you, Holy Spirit of the living God.
Light as air,
refreshing as the breathy breeze
from the southern seas,
insistent and disturbing
as the wind that blows
from the deserts of the north,
so you renew and unsettle us.

Cross
Focus on the life in your whole body

Our hearts overflow with praise
for you Jesus Christ, risen Son.
Like the gentle dawn
you radiate new life,
like the midday sun
you blaze out with transforming passion,
like the setting sun
you reveal the beauty of reconciling love.

Sacred Three in blessed unity, we praise you.

And now having offered our praise for who our God is,
let us uphold before God the fullness and truth of our being,
the life of humanity in all its wonder and frailty.

All images together
Silence

This is who we are, Holy One,
body, breath and heartbeat,
creatures of love
who so often fall short in our loving.
By your grace shine the light of your risen Son
and breathe the breath of your living Spirit,
to bring forth the growth of eternal life
in us and all creation.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

God’s reign is near.
Hear the word of renewing grace:
Your sin is forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

Ian Ferguson, offered for worship 22/01/2023, Epiphany 3A

Prayers of the people

Watch or 49:51

Loving God of strong summer winds
We pray for the World.
We pray for a world that needs inspiration.
We pray for humble people in tough parts of Ukraine,
in tough parts of Australia: may they feel heard.
In your mercy, hear our prayers.
We sit up, we breathe in warm Summer air.
We cast our net out to others.
We feel their weight. We feel inspired.

We pray for the Church.
May the Uniting Church remember the dove with wings of flame.
May we feel the strength of the symbols.
May we convert ideas into action, this year.
In your mercy, hear our prayers.
We sit up, we breathe in warm Summer air.
We cast our net out to others.
We feel their weight. We feel inspired.

We pray for those in need.
We take a deep breath and prepare for a new year.
May we find the strength for it. May we see the point of it.
May we reach out to others.
May we draw strength from and give strength to, others.

In your mercy, hear our prayers.
We sit up, we breathe in warm Summer air.
We cast our net out to others.
We feel their weight. We feel inspired.

In the name of Christ calling us.
Praise,
Amen.

Jim Kilpatrick, offered for worship 22/01/2023, Epiphany 3A