30^th May 2019

Prayer of Opening Approach 2

Introduction: We bow in worship

In the quietness of this moment

As we prepare to open our hearts

and minds to worship God,

We turn away from focusing on ourselves,

We let go of the stresses that press in and distract us.

We let go of the thoughts that have pre-occupied us,

In this moment with our imagination and minds eye

We gaze upon Jesus, present in His risen power.

Prayer:

Risen Lord, we worship you in all your power and majesty

As the Creator, source of all life,

Who is present with us,

Who has defeated the power of death

And who, in this moment,

Has been shown to reign over all things,

All things seen and unseen,

Humbly we bow before you bringing our worship.

 

Promised Holy Spirit, present within us

and among those gathered in Jesus name

help us in our worship to welcome your presence.

As you open our ears and minds to God’s truth,

As you open our eyes and hearts to God’s love,

As you inspire our praise, warm our hearts

and move us with a renewed desire to serve you.

In Jesus Name, AMEN.

E.A. (Ted) Curnow

 

INVOCATION 1

Lord God, awesome in power,

who gives and sustains life,

who reaches out to us in Jesus Christ,

as the resurrection and the life,

with humble hearts we come together

in your name to worship and

adore you for you alone are holy.

Your ways and thoughts are not our ways.

You are exalted above all principalities and powers

You alone are worthy of our praise.

 

In your love and mercy during this quiet moment

help us to put aside all that would distract us

from an awareness of your presence.

Through the Holy Spirit,---Jesus, Living Water

quench our thirst and fill our emptiness.

Jesus, Bread of Life satisfy our hunger

and feed our emptiness.

Take the patchwork of our frailty,

claim us as your own and renew us

in your love so that we are both willing

and empowered to worship

and serve you as you deserve.

In Jesus name, Amen.

E.A.(Ted) Curnow

 

Confession ---Seeking Father 1

Loving God and Seeking Father

Who in Jesus story brought the prodigal son home,

who perused Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road,

and who seeks us out with a

“love that will not let us go,

(in this quiet moment)

 we rest our weary souls in thee.”

 

We confess that we fall short of your glory,

and we are not the people we would like

other people to think we are.

The scripture says, “There are none

 who are righteous, no not one.”

“All fall short of your glory.”

 

We are the ones who easily stray away like sheep.

In your great mercy and grace Lord, we acknowledge that

you became the Servant wounded and bruised for our sin,

that Jesus you died our death, once, for all,

so in this moment we take hold of all that this means.

 

We confess that Jesus has dealt with our failure,

the accusing, dark influence and power

of our sin and death over us.

It was Peter who said, “Lord you alone have the words of eternal life,”

You alone Lord set us free from the accusation of guilt, the bondage of fear, shame and all that would demean us.

 

We confess that you have become

our light and our salvation.

We confess that your undeserved mercy

and love has captured our hearts.

So that in our surrender and dependence upon you,

you have become our joy, the strength of our life.

Seeking God, Loving Father,

now we pray that what you have begun to do in our lives,

please bring it to completion, so that we

may become channels of your seeking love.

In Jesus name, Amen.

E.A. ( Ted ) Curnow. 2017

Prayer General Intercession 3

The writer of Proverbs reminds us that, “righteousness exalts a nation.” Prov. 14:34

We Pray for our World.

Sovereign God who knows the course of history, the destiny of nations, in your mercy guide world leaders entrusted with power and responsibility to seek wisdom, justice, and peace, and Lord turn our appetite for greed into generosity.

Restrain waring parties locked in battle and where evil seems to reign we pray for new ways ahead and the triumph of righteousness.

We pray for the victims of conflict, for refugee families and the agencies attempting to bind up their wounds.

We pray for nations and people caught in the grip of drought and natural disaster and overwhelmed by circumstances they cannot change.

Paul writes, “Hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good” Rom 13:9

We Pray for the Church.

Lord who journeys with us, who has strengthened his people through the ages, revive your church with life and power. Anoint our lives and worship with your truth and a courage to live your truth, to declare it in a lost world. Help us to be channels and servants of your love so that we honour you amid the issues of every day life.

Help every member of this Congregation to grow in there relationship with you, to love you more dearly, to serve you more clearly, day by day.

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast your anxiety upon Him for He cares for you.”

We Pray for Others.

Lord we lift up to you today those who are sick in body or mind, especially those who are feeling battered by circumstances beyond their control. We pray especially for-----

Lord, as you reach out to touch us with the assurance of your presence

so lead us to a quick, serving response.

With our faith firmly fixed on you and with courage

move us to reach out to those who are hurting.

Help us to be ready agents of your healing

because we know nothing can separate us from your love.

In Jesus name, AMEN.

 

E. A. (Ted) Curnow.       July 2017

www.tedcurnow.wordpress.com