Almighty God
from before we were born, while waiting in our mothers’ wombs.
You loved us
we bless and thank you for this love
unconditional, total care
And we bless and thank you for all who have shown us your love
parents, friends, Sunday school teachers, our church family, all who have walked this path of faith with us
we recall before you, our King, those who struggle with faith, those who doubt your never ending goodness,
those who believe you are a fearsome and angry God, so do not know you love them.
May your holy spirit pour out on them, enfold them, comfort them, with your love
Christ our Lord
you never turned the children away, but embraced them in your loving arms
may we do the same, by embracing them as part of your church, by welcoming them and their parents, by remembering, though they are young, from the mouths of babes great truths are spoken.
We pray for all children who are abused, who are bullied, who are neglected throughout your world
We know your heart breaks to see children suffer
and our hearts break with you.
Grant the authorities, in schools, in social work, in hospitals to the courage and resources to help all children who cannot know love through abuse in any form
Christ, the head of the church
we pray for your church, here in this place, the Church of Scotland and throughout the world.
May it grow in faith
may it know hope which is beyond understanding
may it be love, shining like the midday sun at the height of summer, for all your people, everywhere.
We think of those who have turned from your church
because they have been hurt by human words
yet they still hold onto faith in you
may they know they are loved beyond measure and there is always a place in this family of faith
as they are united to us through their baptism
Holy Spirit
moving where God the father and God the son only know,
moving in ways and through people and situations we can barely imagine
move within us and you whole church to offer the world what it needs most
Love, the greatest of these, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen