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 142:1-7
1 I cry aloud to the Lord;
I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
I reveal my trouble to him.
3 Although my spirit is weak within me,
you know my way.
Along this path I travel
they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see:
no one stands up for me;
there is no refuge for me;
no one cares about me.
5 I cry to you, Lord;
I say, ‘You are my shelter,
my portion in the land of the living.’
6 Listen to my cry,
for I am very weak.
Rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.
7 Free me from prison
so that I can praise your name.
The righteous will gather around me
because you deal generously with me.
New Testament Reading
Matthew 13:10-17
10 Then the disciples came up and asked him, ‘Why are you speaking to them in parables? ’
11 He answered, ‘Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them. 12 For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand. 14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You will listen and listen,
but never understand;
you will look and look,
but never perceive.
15 For this people’s heart has grown callous;
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears, and
understand with their hearts,
and turn back –
and I would heal them.
16 ‘Blessed are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see but didn’t see them, to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them.
Pause for reflection
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open,
No secrets hidden, all desires known.
We come, with troubled hearts, our sins confessing
And plead Christ’s name before your gracious throne.
Forgive our wills, which seek our own ambitions.
Forgive our minds, distracted by our cares.
Forgive our hearts, so easily entangled
With worldly passions and temptations snares.
Forgive our lack of care for those around us.
Forgive our lack of focus on your will.
Now through the blood of Christ, and by your Spirit,
Cleanse and assure we are your children still.
Then, hearts renewed and ready for your service,
Passions directed by the Spirit’s flame,
We’ll bring a weary world a mighty Saviour,
To praise and glory of your holy Name.
– James Hughes (March 2021, after Thomas Cranmer)
Prayers of Intercession
Today, we are praying for Eritrea and Ethiopia.
We are thankful for:
- the long centuries of Christian history in Ethiopia and Eritrea
- the current witness and work of Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical churches amid difficult circumstances
- those who have provided humanitarian aid, especially during times of drought and hunger
- those who have worked for peaceful relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
We pray for:
- victims of human rights abuses
- greater understanding and respect among the many ethnic groups
- lasting peace and reconciliation between Ethiopia and Eritrea
- the emergence of more democratic governance that respects human rights and furthers justice for all ethnic groups and minorities.
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 missionaries
- all the churches of our city or region
- our local community, businesses, and schools
- our local congregation and its ministries
- opportunities for meaningful worship and fellowship
- opportunities for practicing the way of Jesus
- opportunities for outreach and service to others
- the needs of our families and friends
- our personal needs
Pause for reflection
Classic Prayer
Teach me, gracious Lord,
to begin my deeds with reverence,
to go on with obedience, and to finish them in love;
and then to wait patiently in hope
and with cheerful confidence to look up to You,
whose promises are faithful and rewards infinite;
through Jesus Christ. Amen.
– George Hickes (1642-1715)
Contemporary Prayer
God of the field and the harvest,
You plant seeds of goodness, compassion and justice in the world.
Forgive us when our desire to remove what is harmful
becomes a failure to recognise your grace still at work among us.
Give us wisdom to see clearly.
Give us courage to name the weeds that threaten life –
the weeds of hatred, the weeds of racism,
the weeds of fear, the weeds of division and despair.
Teach us to cultivate what is good –
to plant seeds of kindness.
to grow communities of welcome.
to protect those who are vulnerable.
to nourish hope where hope is fragile.
When the world feels overwhelmed by conflict and division,
help us remain faithful and hopeful gardeners of your kingdom.
May your love take root among us.
May your justice grow strong.
May your peace flourish.
And may we trust the harvest into your loving hands. Amen.
– Rev Deacon Sandy Boyce, Victorian Council of Churches
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,
three persons in one God,
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.
All Told 