Gathering
God
Creator, Word, and Spirit,
You call us together in our inadequate diversity
to reflect Your perfect community in our world.
Be among us today that we may express
the Most Sacred
in our ordinariness
Confession
Almighty God,
our hearts are open to You,
our desires known to You,
and therein lurk the divisions and hostilities
that scar our world,
leaving millions of Your children
wounded, grieving, hungry.
Thank You that these are the very walls
Christ came to break down.
Thank You that You have already forgiven
and made possible a new community in Your Spirit.
Turn our thoughts from our own safety and security
to the glory of Your name
that it may be expressed in our living for the wholeness of society,
beginning here in this church.
Amen
Psalm 119:137-144
137 You are righteous, O Lord,
and your judgements are right.
138 You have appointed your decrees in righteousness
and in all faithfulness.
139 My zeal consumes me
because my foes forget your words.
140 Your promise is well tried,
and your servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and your law is the truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
but your commandments are my delight.
144 Your decrees are righteous for ever;
give me understanding that I may live.
Thanksgiving
Creator God,
Thank You that you made space for us –
for all created things –
within the Divine Communion.
Thank You for Your abundant generosity
as we name our blessings …
All things come from You,
and of Your own we give You, as we commit again
to live as channels of Your peace
in a world marked by conflict.
Amen
Prayer for others
Healing God,
We pray for Your groaning world
and strain to hear Your groaning with us:
with those living with
poverty
war
oppression
sexual and gender-based violence
hunger
and the daily denial of their dignity as Your children.
Tune our hearts to Your pain
that we may recognise You even in the midst of great evil.
We pray for those with power and influence:
[you may wish to list some names here]
We pray for those seeking to serve those at the margins
and in the most dangerous places
such as World Vision, and other organisations.
We pray for those closer at hand suffering
from sickness
bereavement
loneliness
that they would know You close at hand,
and for those fearing the near end of life,
that You would grant them a perfect end
From the Book of Common Prayer:
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son:
Look with compassion on the whole human family;
take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts;
break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love;
and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth;
that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony
around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Bellshill Central Church 