Prayers of Adoration & Confession

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God of all beginnings,
Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit,
One God in community, present from Creation, yet born in a manger,
All that is comes from you.

Open our eyes to see your presence all around us:
in the power of summer hailstones,
and in the warmth of the sun that melts them.
in the security of a satisfying meal,
and in a family’s race to safety from danger.
in the miraculous complexity and magnitude of the Universe,
and in the softness of a baby’s skin.

Open our eyes to see your presence
in the large, and the small,
in the loudness, and the quietness,
in the powerful, and the powerless,
in our neighbour, and in the stranger.

Life of the world, light in our darkness,
As we stand at the start of a new year, and reflect on the year that is gone,
We hold the past before you, with grief and sorrow for our world.
When we see health inequality and the growth of viral infections worldwide, we sorrow,
When we see racial inequality and the persistence of prejudice, we are moved to despair,
When we cannot see the way forward to bring your kingdom to earth, we grieve.

Restore us. Grant us your vision of the future.
Help us to see your light in times of darkness.
Help us to see new ways to bring life to the world.
Amen

Natalie Sims, offered for worship 3/1/2021, Christmas 2B

Sisters and Brothers,
What seems impossible becomes possible through God, who is stronger than all that is.
With the coming of the infant Christ from heaven to earth,
And through the work of the Spirit,
we can have confidence that a new world is possible.

In Christ, through Christ and because of Christ, our sin is forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

Ian Ferguson, offered for worship 3/1/2021, Christmas 2B

Prayers of the people

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We are struck by awe at the wonder of the universe our God.
And we sing your praise with the moon, the sun and the stars.
We give you thanks that you come to be with us in humility and insignificance
That we may live for you we thank you in Jesus Holy Name.
Amen

1.  Star-child, earth-child go-between of God,
love Child, Christ Child, heaven’s lightning rod,
this year, this year, let the day arrive,
when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!

2.  Street child, beat child no place left to go,
hurt child, used child, no one wants to know, this year …

3.  Grown child, old child, mem’ry full of years,
sad child, lost child, story told in tears, this year …

4.  Spared child, spoiled child, having, wanting more,
wise child, faith child knowing joy in store, this year …

5.  Hope-for-peace Child, God’s stupendous sign,
down-to-earth Child, star of stars that shine, this year …

SONG:  Star Child, © Shirley Murray, from Every day in your spirit,  Hope Publishing Company;
Reproduced with permission under ONE LICENCE # 604502.

Ian Ferguson, offered for worship, 3/1/2021, Christmas 2B