Let us be glad in our King
our King who is our Maker
Let us be glad and offer our thanks and praise
for the love of God
is a two edged sword
offering freedom to the captives
and punishment to their captors
cutting across nations with wrathful anger at injustice and greed
yet offering balm and mercy to those who seek justice
those who speak out against all forms of greed
Let us be glad the our King
be glad and offer our thanks and praise
that we can be Christians
without fear of persecution
we recall those who cannot profess their faith publicly
where even meeting with one other Christian is too risky to even contemplate.
How they must long to meet with another, to pray together?
Do they feel our prayers being with them?
Do they know they are with us, gathered with us, though miles apart?
We pray they do
that the feel a sense of being one body
Christ Jesus
we praise you we are members of your body
joined by the holy spirit
to the whole worldwide church
that our prayers mingle through time and space
wafting up to heaven as glorious perfume
as incense offered over an altar
though our words may not be the most articulate
though sometimes we may have no words
we know you accept them all
as the gifts we offer
as we pause for a few moments to offer the people places and situations which are on our hearts today
[pause]
Lord Jesus Christ
in your mercy
hear all these prayers
Amen