Invocation
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pause for reflection
Good morning, heavenly Father.
We worship you, the creator and sustainer of the universe.
Good morning, Lord Jesus.
We worship you, Saviour and Lord of the world.
Good morning, Holy Spirit.
We worship you, sanctifier of the people of God.
Opening sentences
One thing I have asked of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life;
to behold the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
Who is it that you seek?
We seek the Lord our God.
Do you seek him with all your heart?
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Do you seek him with all your soul?
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Do you seek him with all your mind?
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Do you seek him with all your strength?
Amen. Christ, have mercy.
Declaration of faith
To whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life,
and we have believed and have come to know
that you are the Holy One of God.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ,
King of endless glory.
Hebrew Bible reading
Psalm 23:1-6
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have what I need.
2Â He lets me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside quiet waters.
3Â He renews my life;
he leads me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4Â Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff – they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live.
New Testament Reading
Revelation 7:9-17
9 After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
Salvation belongs to our God,
who is seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb!
11 All the angels stood around the throne, and along with the elders and the four living creatures they fell face down before the throne and worshipped God, 12 saying,
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honour
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13 Then one of the elders asked me, ‘Who are these people in white robes, and where did they come from? ’
14 I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’
Then he told me: These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and they serve him day and night in his temple.
The one seated on the throne will shelter them:
16 They will no longer hunger;
they will no longer thirst;
the sun will no longer strike them,
nor will any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb who is at the centre of the throne
will shepherd them;
he will guide them to springs of the waters of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Pause for reflection
Prayer of Confession
Holy Father, we thank you that in Christ we are not trapped in yesterday. We thank you that your Word does not push us away when we repent. Instead, you call us back. May we return to you today, and receive grace to walk in the light.
As we confess, repent and return to the way of Jesus, you renew us. Heal in us what pride has strained, restore what sin has damaged, and keep our hearts tender before you. Help us to walk in truth, make things right where we can, and live differently by your grace. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Today, we are praying for India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
We give thanks for:
- the diversity of peoples in these countries: their cultures, values and spirituality
- for the resilience of minority religious groups and those on the margins of society such as indigenous communities, Dalits, women, youth, the disabled and sexual minorities, amid discrimination and persecution
- for the contributions of Christians and Christian churches in these countries to education and health services and for their innovative attempts in contextualizing their worship, theology and institutional life
- efforts to forge inter-religious solidarity for the sake of the common good.
We pray for:
- those who struggle to overcome grinding poverty
- Christians and others who selflessly work in the community, their efforts at ensuring the rights of all citizens, and their collaborative work
- efforts to build understanding and harmony among peoples across religious, caste and ethnic identities
- peoples’ movements struggling for the rights of women, Dalits, Indigenous peoples, and the integrity of the earth
- leaders to keep priority on the wellbeing of the people and the earth itself amid demands for economic growth.
In our own place in the world, we pray for:
- all whose decisions involve questions of justice, mercy and peace
- federal, state and local politicians
- church leaders, ministers, pastors, teachers, and missionariesÂ
- all the churches of our city or region
- our local community, businesses, and schools
- our local congregation and its ministries
- opportunities to experience meaningful worship and fellowship
- opportunities for discipleship and learning to be more like Jesus
- opportunities for service to others and sharing the good news
- the needs of our families and friends
- our personal needs
Pause for reflection
Classic Prayer
Honor and praise be unto you, O Lord our God,Â
for all Your tender mercies.
Continual thanks be unto You for creating us in Your own likeness;Â
for redeeming us by the precious bloodÂ
of Your dear Son when we were lost;
and for sanctifying us with the Holy Spirit.
For all the benefits, O most merciful Father,
that we have received of Your goodness alone, we thank You;Â
and we beseech You to grant us always Your Holy Spirit,Â
that we may grow in grace, in steadfast faith,Â
and perseverance in all good works,Â
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
– John Knox (1505-1572)
Contemporary Prayer
Liberating God, we hold before you these places of conflict and division.
Lord let us see.
May we see your way.
Israel, Gaza
Palestinians in the West Bank , settlers
Ukraine, Russia
Homeowner, homeless
Feeling loved, feeling unloved
Wealth, poverty
Food waste, starvation
Employed, unemployed
Time rich, time poor
Digitally savvy, digitally illiterate
Social media user, not connected to social media
Local, global
Illness, health
Abundance, loss
Many friends, few friends
Older age, younger age.
In all these places, and in all these situations,
Lord let us see.
May we see your way.
May we listen for your Word
May we pray, and may we act
May we be humble, and may we be strong
May we listen, and may we speak out
May we march to turn events to God’s way, and
May we withdraw the better to pray.
May we join with the saints and the cloud of witnesses who have gone before us,
and above all, may we be your presence, today and everyday.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
– Kirsty Bennett, Brunswick Uniting Church (2025)
The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13, NIV
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.
Pause for reflection
Sending Prayer
Heavenly Father, we pray
that we may live this day in your presence
and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, we pray that this day
we may take up our cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, we pray that this day
you will fill us with yourself
and cause your fruit to ripen in our lives:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity,Â
three persons in one God,Â
have mercy upon us. Amen.
Canticle
Christ, as a light,
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield,
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever he may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
iDigress 