Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Watch or 8:19

Mother and Father of Creation,
we are astounded by the images we have seen from the Webb space telescope.
Astonished by infinite vastness of these moments in Creation.
And yet you think on us and we feel you close
in these small moments of our lives here on our blue planet.

Jesus teacher and friend you taught us how to live our lives,
weaving us together in a community of faith.
You taught us how to pray,
and opened our way to a new relationship with our God.

Spirit, breath of God
You are every breath we take.
God with us, our constant strength, help and comfort.

O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
          When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer,
          Come and listen to me.

Mother, Father, Jesus, Spirit, where do we start when we ask for forgiveness?

Forgive us for the global problems we cause in our greed and abuse of power. For people fighting, dying in wars and ethnic cleansing in so many countries, causing world wide food and fuel shortages and a new wave of refugees.

Forgive our neglect of your creation.
For the greed and selfishness that is contributing to global warming,
and the degradation of our land and the loss of our animals.
We cry to you but fail to recognize that we are are the problem and can be the solution.

Forgive us when we ignore family violence, child and elder abuse and exploitation, discrimination of ethnicity, colour, sexual orientation and religion.

Forgive our faithlessness, our meanness, our selfishness, and
for all the times when we fail to love as you taught us.

Forgive us when our prayers are a monologue, or by rote, without thought.
When we give you our shopping list of things we want
but fail to hear you or ignore your voice when you knock on the door of our hearts.

Holy three in one, in your faithfulness, keep knocking until we can’t help but answer.

Word of Grace
Lord you taught us to pray and opened a way for new relationship with you,
so that in Christ, through Christ and because of Christ,
Our sin is forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

Helen Burnham, offered for worship 24/07/2022, Pentecost 7C

Prayers of the people

Watch or 49:20

Loving God of bitter-winter wind

We pray for the World. We pray for the ordinary people of Ukraine: for poor people, for disappeared people: may their families feel supported. We pray for friends and relatives in other countries, facing heatwaves, and climate change. May their leaders finally see the right path. May we all find a peace-filled and compassionate vision for the future.

In your mercy, hear our prayers.
We breathe in, and out. We plant our feet on the ground. We recall the Psalm:
Restore us, oh God of our salvation. Make God’s footsteps our pathway.

We pray for the Church. We pray for Uniting Church congregations and other congregations walking with us through another winter, another test of faith. We pray for new directions set by the recent Uniting Church synod of Victoria. We pray for the new Moderator, David Fotheringham: may he find his path. We pray for Uniting Church members walking with homeless or underprivileged people.

In your mercy, hear our prayers.
We breathe in, and out. We plant our feet on the ground. We recall the Psalm:
Restore us, oh God of our salvation. Make God’s footsteps our pathway.

We pray for those in need: may they see a new pathway. May our families support us. May schoolkids hang out with their friends again. May carers find rest. We pray with those watching at home: may you feel included. May we return to the right path.

In your mercy, hear our prayers.
We breathe in, and out. We plant our feet on the ground. We recall the Psalm:
Restore us, oh God of our salvation. Make God’s footsteps our pathway.

In the name of Christ walking, showing us the path.
Praise,
Amen

Jim Kilpatrick, offered for worship by Saide Cameron, 24/07/2022, Pentecost 7C