Lord God
Joseph’s brothers didn’t recognise him, but in his compassion, he revealed himself to them.
We thank you that in your compassion we can recognise you, for you revealed yourself to us in Jesus Christ
May we be compassionate to those who have wronged us in the past, forgive them, love them, as Joseph did his brothers
Jesus our brother
Like Joseph, you were sent ahead of us according to God’s plan that, through your life, death and resurrection, salvation would been given to all
we praise and thank you for going ahead and preparing the way for us
ease our anger when life is not as we would wish
when our minds are sharp, but our bodies fail us
when illness follows us by night and day and we struggle to escape its clutches
we cannot fathom how this fits into your great plan
but teach us to trust in your plan
where your compassion, mercy and love are revealed
Revealing Spirit
throughout the whole of creation, you have been a shaping and guiding force in the world
you revealed God uses the least and most unlikely for God’s purposes
that through them, all people on earth would know God’s deliverance
thank you for including us in God’s plan
reveal to us a little our part in this plan
that we may be the ones who use the little we have to offer to God’s glory
that, God may be revealed to all we encounter through us
Almighty God
The world seems so hard, so angry at the moment
and we do not know what to do
we do not understand how this fits with your plan
perhaps it does not
help us to understand where the world’s plans and your plans intersect
and help us to pray for those plans to work out for your glory
where the world’s plans and yours are at odds
teach us to pray that hearts and minds may be changed
from bitterness and anger
to comfort and calm
from prejudice and rejection
to tolerance and acceptance
from hatred and division
to love and inclusion
that your purpose will be worked out
that all your people may know salvation
that your glory may be revealed
Amen