Call to Worship:
Psalm 52: 8 and 9: I am like an olive tree flourishing in the
house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever. For what you have done I will always praise
you in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.
Give thanks to God,
because through his mercy we received the spirit of discipline that we may
triumph over evil and grow in grace.
Glory to the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, gracious and merciful, world without end!
Come, let us worship the Lord, our God!
Prayer of praise:
Gracious, merciful Lord, how hard is it to read and
hear of the abuse your only begotten Son suffered even prior to his
crucifixion. What can I say in response, but "Thank You" for Jesus walking
the path of grief, suffering and shame for my sake. Our Lord took the abuse
that I deserved, and gave us his glory in return.
Dear
Lord Jesus, you chose the cross. Those who led you to Golgotha were simply
working out what God our Father had willed and you, Lord Jesus, had freely and
lovingly chosen. How can I thank you for
this costly choice? Because you took up
the cross, I am forgiven and can take up life in all of its fullness. Make me
eternally grateful, Lord Jesus.
Father - glory, honour and praise to you, who gave us
your Son. Help us to believe in him and we will never perish, but praise and
worship you, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Prayer for the
forgiveness of Sin:
O Lord, as much as I hate to confess it, there is a
bit of Judas in me. Forgive me for the times when I pledged allegiance to you,
made promises to you, only to discard you in the way that I live. Help me to
see where my message to you is a mixed one, where worship and praise and
betrayal and deceit live in the very same heart.
Forgive me, dear Lord, when I let fear get in the
way of my relationship with you. Forgive me for all the times I have fallen
short in my discipleship, because I've been afraid. Forgive me for failing to
trust you when you've proven through your suffering to be completely worthy of
my trust.
Dear Lord, help me to acknowledge my sins, both to
myself and to you, rather than justifying myself through immature and pointless
excuses and defences. My hands will only
be clean, Lord, when I am washed in the blood of the Lamb.
(Now
let us all, during a time of silence repent of our sins and in faith expect the
forgives of God)
O Father who forgives and restores - grant me faith
in the atoning death and victorious resurrection of Jesus in my place and, by
your Spirit, teach me how to live and how to love.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer for
enlightenment:
Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your
light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover
our peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayers of
Intercession:
Eternally kind and gracious God and Father of us all, thank you for your mercy.
You give
us what we need, not according to what we deserve, but according to your infinite grace and
love. Thank you for hearing our cries
and responding, remembering even me. Thank you for the promise I have of
Paradise beyond this life.
Father God, our hope and our salvation, listen to our
prayers.
Oh Lord,
through your Spirit, enthuse all
believers to carry forward the torch that saints have carried from generation
to generation, since the beginning of the Church, without compromise or fear, that the Light of
the world, Jesus Christ our Lord, will
guide all nations to follow God’s reformation plan for their countries and for
humanity. And make your people holy, as
you, our God, is holy!
God of
mercy and love, send the Holy Spirit to enable every Christian to proclaim the
Gospel in the rural areas and amongst the poorest communities and to liberate
through Jesus our Lord, everyone from
fear, superstition and false religion. Save those who are lost as the result of
human wisdom, worldly leadership and manmade schemes. May we all, because we
are in need of salvation, put our trust in the only Saviour of the world, Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Redeemer.
Holy and
almighty God, unite preachers of and listeners to God’s work, both the leaders
and the members of all faith communities, to work together without envy,
personal agenda’s or personal politics to accomplish their best endeavours for
the work of God, sparing nothing and giving everything for the redemption of
all people and the growth of God’s work in local churches and in the worldwide
assembly of the faithful.
In your
mercy, dear Lord, grant peace to peoples worn out by civil war, violence,
unrest and military threats to their countries.
Provide for generosity to refugees, all foreigners, all who had to
abandon their homes and motherlands and Lord, protect their safety and dignity.
O tender
and gracious Creator, our Lord and God, heal all who suffer from depression and
are lonely, sad and afraid and grant that your children will help them to see
and experience the mercy and the love of God and his Church.
Call and
help health workers who will bless community health programs, clinics and
hospitals to provide for excellent care of all who are ill, treating those who
are sick with respect and love.
And now, Father, listen to our prayers for those in our
congregation who are ill, afflicted and in pain.
We pray for.......
Father, grant us and all your children a blessed Lenten
Season. Make it a time of spiritual growth, commitment to you and your Kingdom
and a time to strengthen and increase our love for you, our Redeemer and our
Saviour.
Prepare our hearts by remembering what Jesus did for us
when he suffered, died and was buried for our sake to, at a time so soon to
come, be truly able to celebrate that for our sake and for the glory of your
name, your gracious Son rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and graciously
reign over us as exalted Lord and God of your Church and of all creation.
Gracious Lord Jesus, how can I ever thank you enough for
dying for me on the cross? Your death
has given me life. Your sacrifice has led to my blessing. Help me never to take
your death for granted, forgetting what you did for me and neglecting its
significance. May the reality of your sacrifice press itself upon my mind and
flood my heart.
As we hear your eternal Word, even Jesus our Saviour,
make us truly thankful, living your Gospel and sharing your gifts and your
deliverance, as we seek your face and long for a closer walk with you.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
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