Prayers of Adoration

Psalm 63

O God, you are our God,
We seek you early with a heart that thirsts for you
and a body wasted with longing for you,
like a dry and thirsty land that has no water.

So longing, we come before you in worship
to look upon your power and glory.

Your true love is better than life;
therefore we will sing your praises.

We are satisfied as with a rich and sumptuous feast
and wake the echoes with your praise.

Prayers of Adoration

The prophet Isaiah says:

Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.

Meditate on our hunger and thirst. Confess our emptiness.

We do labour for that which does not satisfy

Have mercy

We look to live on bread alone, and remain hungry

Have mercy

We long for the soul thirst quenching drink, the heart hunger satisfying food that only you can provide

Have mercy

The good news is this,
there is food for our hungry souls and water for our thirsty spirits.
Hear the word of Christ that feeds and refreshes us all:
Your sin is forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

by Ian Ferguson, offered for worship, 24/3

Prayers of the People

We pray for our world:

We pray for your creation and for all living things on land and in the sea.
We pray that we, as individuals, and as communities, will exercise care for creation.
Help us to be aware of the damage that is done by war and greed.
We bring to you the damaged reefs, the dying fish, the dry riverbeds.
We pray for renewal of our waterways and our oceans,
and pray for those who work to protect and restore them.
We bring to you the water carriers, those who cannot go to the wells,
the contaminated water supplies. We pray for those who lack safe
and ready access to water, and for those who work to build
and restore supplies of clean water.

Bring your living water to those who thirst.
In your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for your church, and for all who seek to follow and serve you.

We pray that we, as individuals, and as congregations, will seek living water,
and encourage each other in prayer and service.
We bring to you our President Deirdre and our moderator, Sharon.
We pray for all in leadership positions, including Ian, Peter, Janet, Janet and Valentina,
our church council, committees, and leaders; we pray for refreshing waters
that renew and inspire. We continue to pray for unity of spirit, both in the Uniting Church,
and between all Christian denominations,
and for understanding between all people of faith; we pray for calm and healing waters

Bring your living water to those who thirst.
In your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our community:
We pray for those who are sick or unwell.
For those who grieve.
For those who are lonely or in difficult relationships.
For those who are struggling to make ends meet.
For those who are in need of your comfort and healing.
And for those who need our support most today.

Bring your living water to those who thirst.
In your mercy, hear our prayer.

Amen

Offered for worship by Natalie Sims, 24/3