Lord God Almighty
We bring you our praise for the wonders you have made
advances in science and technology which barely seemed imaginable a generation ago
it’s possible to find out information from throughout the world with the touch of a button or the sound of a voice
but the advance has come at a cost
our communities are fractured
our young people feel isolated as never before
our farmers struggle with increasingly variable weather patterns
our land, Lord God, desperately needs to hear your voice,
to be given a vision of hope and a future
come, into our world
as you did time and time again before
come, speak your Word of Life into our communities
breath your love into our young people
imbue in all people a care for creation
Creating God
we praise you for the creative arts
painting, sculpture, photography, drama, dance, music
to name a few
they expand our minds
they challenge our understanding
they speak with passion
with a prophetic voice showing and saying how the world is and how the world can be
assist us to value those who create
to support their work in prayer and financially
that they and we may continue to find joy and challenge in the work of their hands
work which is from you, Lord God
Compassionate God
we praise and thank you for those who tell us uncomfortable truths, as Samuel did to Eli
may we realise more and more your word of reproach is for our good, to encourage us to see beyond own selfish desires and to look to bring about your glory and love
in this church
in our communities
in your world
Calling Christ
we praise you that you have called each one of us to follow you, to place our lives before you, to love you most of al
we thank you for all who have responded to your call of to specific service for your kingdom
as ministers, elders, deacons, missionaries, teachers, preachers, prophets
may we uphold them in prayer this day and each day
we ask they may be encouraged in their service and empowered to say the truths your people need to hear, even when they are uncomfortable
we also pray more people will listen to your voice speaking to them
calling to them to love you, Lord God
and love neighbour as self
for there is no higher calling in your service
Heavenly God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
whose name we praise and honour
whose voice we long to listen to
through Christ our Lord
Amen