Liturgical Prayers for Sunday 4 August 2013.

Liturgical Prayers for Sunday (4 August 2013).

Call to Worship -    From Psalm 130

As soldiers guarding a fortress,

wait for the sun to rise,

for countless, endless hours,

through nights with darkest skies:

So I wait on the LORD God,

I’m waiting long, it’s hard!

But God in grace and mercy,

will not my plea discard. 

Have hope, have faith, God’s people,

and trust in God who saves.

With sunrise comes his mercy!

God rescues from the grave.

His love, his grace, his pity

bring light, create the day.

Absolve my sins, forgive me,

LORD, while I wait, and pray.

Glory to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Amen.

Prayer of Praise and for the forgiveness of sin

We give thanks, honour and glory to our merciful God who is our Helper and our Father, in and through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God:  who is God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, and the eternal Word of the Father!   

We give thanks, honour and glory to our Saviour, for you, Lord, have sheltered and helped us, protected and spared and carried us until this hour.

May your peace and your grace be with us and guide us, o Holy Spirit, as you reveal to us the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ! May we find peace in his imputed righteousness and courage because he lives and lives forevermore!

Have mercy on us, O God, have mercy on us!  We know, Lord, that you love the righteous and that you have mercy on sinners. You do not wish the death of the sinner but rather that he returns and lives and you call us to repentance and salvation today,  to believe in the promise of your forgiveness which will come to us for the sake of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Guide us to fulfil your commandments.

Forgive our sins.

Sanctify our hearts.

Guard and lead our thoughts.

Purify our intentions.

Deliver us from every distress, sadness and feeling of guilt,

o gracious Lord.

Grant us faith, that we may accept your love, your forgiveness and your grace.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Amen. 

Prayers of Intercession:

Almighty God, our Father who is in heaven, you are holy, and most holy! You, Father, and your Son, and your Holy Spirit are holy and most holy!

We worship you, we praise you and we declare our love for you anew.

Have mercy, and listen to our prayers, because without you, Lord Jesus, we can do nothing. When we are one with you, as you are one with the Father, we can fulfil your purposes for our lives, our faith and our love for you. 

For our congregation:

Heavenly Father, today hear our prayer for the preaching of your Word amongst us. Bless the preacher with humility, wisdom and insight in your Word that we may hear the gospel and discover your teaching with grateful and receptive hearts. Grant us the willingness to change according to your Word to receive the true blessings which come from obedience and faith.

Bless our Session with wisdom and diligence in your work, we pray.  Grant each elder the gifts according to your wisdom and pleasure, that together, as they seek your guidance and your will as our Session, they will see the light in the light of your Word and rule and reign amongst us as servants of Christ, our Lord and the Head of the Church.  Bless the Moderator and Clerk of Session with wisdom, patience and love to lead the elders in all humility and righteousness.

Bless and refresh every ministry (or association) of this congregation and enthuse them to minister and work for you, Lord Jesus, with passion and efficiency, that your Kingdom which is near may come where we work, your will may be done through our service and your Name be glorified through our enthusiasm and originality.

For the UPCSA.

God of love and of grace, have mercy on the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.

Guide all who lead and govern within our denomination and who serve you by becoming our servants in Christ.

Grant good health, the joy of the Lord and your wisdom to the Moderator and Clerk of General Assembly and show them the way and the means to fulfil our calling in this country and in Southern Africa that they may lead us in righteousness and wisdom to glorify you in all we do as a denomination.

Grant your love, your peace and strength to the Moderator and Clerk of our Presbytery that we will benefit from their spiritual formation in Christ and their lives being filled with your Holy Spirit. Carry them and grant them good health and much joy in your work, o God.

Dear Lord, unite your people in faith and in passion for your gospel, and help us to love one another even as you love us, we pray.

For those in distress.

Remember today, our Father who is in heaven, all who are in distress, in pain, caught up in sadness and depression and in despondency and hopelessness.

Grant your fellowship to the lonely, your strength to all who are afraid, your mercy to those who are ill and heal them through the might and power of the risen Lord, Jesus Christ.

Provide food for the hungry and shelter for the destitute and show us how to make a difference as your children and as a church that minister in your Name.

Be you our comfort, o Lord. Guide, help and protect us against all evil.

Restore our joy!

Replenish our energy and strength.

Refill our hearts and lives with your love

and deliver us from every form of discouragement, stress and depression.

Listen to our prayers, almighty Saviour, who is always with us, for.....

May your grace and mercy be our guide, may your love be our inspiration and your Word the light for our feet and the lamp on our way.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray.

Amen.