God our creator who goes before us
You draw us forward in faith
Like a pillar of fire across deserts
A rock of assurance
As we journey
Speak to us with your words of comfort and wisdom.
Prayer of confession
God of love and forgiveness
Save us by your tenderness
From each deed that is destructive
From each act that grieves you
From each thought that is careless
From each idea that is unloving
From each word that hurts.
Help us to face up to your call on our lives, by creating love and
goodness, community, society where it has been broken. In Jesus Name, Amen.
We say Lords Prayer in our own language
Matthew 5v21-26
21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to [the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23 Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.25 Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last penny”.
We pray for the people of Ukraine, for humanitarian corridors, for the Russian people, for refugees everywhere, for Hong Kong, for Taiwan, for Syrians, for Yemenis, for Palestinians, for the Rohingas, for Uighurs; For those suffering from flooding, drought earthquakes, and cyclones due to climate change, for homeless people, for those who are hungry, thirsty or in prison, for the terrified and deranged; and for the government to do the best for its people and not the worst; for our children, grandchildren and a better future for us all.
May God’s hand be upon us in these difficult times, your angels protect us and the Holy Spirit work in and around us. Amen
Song “Once again”
Loving God help us to follow you
Into a place of quietness,
Where we may face beasts and wilderness
But we will know the presence of angels
Even in the desert times. Amen.
