Invocation
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures for ever (Ps 106:1).
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 34:1-10, 22
1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will boast in the Lord;
the humble will hear and be glad.
3 Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and rescued me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant with joy;
their faces will never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him from all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord camps
round those who fear him, and rescues them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!
9 You who are his holy ones, fear the Lord,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 Young lions lack food and go hungry,
but those who seek the Lord
will not lack any good thing.
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
Merciful God, we turn to you in hope and expectation.
We are aware of how often we miss the mark
of your standards in our living.
We are sorry for careless words that hurt others
and undermine our witness to your love.
We seek your forgiveness for missing
so many opportunities to serve in the way of Christ
because we are focussing on our own needs or desires.
We repent that we have joined the chorus of division
rather than living out your gospel of reconciliation.
Help us now to think with your wisdom;
to act with your mercy and grace,
to be people who reflect your justice and truth
and so bring your Light into our daily living,
for we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Today, we are praying for The Caribbean.
We are thankful for:
• the natural beauty, climate, and distinctive cultural practices of these islands
• how churches have responded to disasters and served all in need
• how liberation from colonialism and oppression has been pursued through music, words and actions
• the leaders of the ecumenical movement who have come from this region.
We pray for:
• those devastated by disasters, that their lives, communities and eco-systems might be rebuilt
• the strengthening of all who faithfully witness through word and deed to the gospel
• all those affected by crime and addictions
• good governance and smooth transitions between political leaders.
In our own place in the world, we pray for:
- all whose decisions involve questions of justice, mercy and peace
- our federal, state and local politicians
- all the churches of our city and those who lead them
- our local community, businesses, and schools
- our 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
You are Wisdom….
Raise me, I pray, that I may wholly respond to …
Your words, mysterious and inspired.
There all God’s secret matters lie covered and hidden
under darkness both profound and brilliant, silent and wise.
You make what is ultimate and beyond brightness
secretly to shine in all that is most dark.
In Your way, ever unseen and intangible,
You fill to the full with most beautiful splendor those souls
who close their eyes that they may see.
And I, please, with love that goes on beyond mind
to all that is beyond mind,
seek to gain such for myself through prayer. Amen.
The Cloud of Unknowing (14th century)
Contemporary Prayer
Gracious and compassionate God,
faithful to all your promises,
supplier of our needs,
may we never underestimate
the value of all that you afford us;
nor the usefulness of the endowments you give
for the realization of your purposes.
May we never so take for granted
the gifts your bounteous grace provides
as to become victims of the callousness
that produces an abundance of waste.
And save us, we ask you, from becoming
purveyors of the careless and irresponsible disposal
of the waste we produce. Amen.
© Neville Callam, Jamaica
The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
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 evil.
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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
