Heavenly Father,
In a world where our habits of feeling, thinking, and acting do not always reveal your glory we can become like beasts, possessing riches without truly understanding what you have given us. But there You are, loving us, calling to us, and saving us! Thank you! You reached out to us; Raised the veil, and brought us into your fellowship. Now we abide in the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You have given us a new hope: Christ in us, the hope of glory!
We confess we do not always know what we do. We confess we sometimes know what we are doing and rebel against You. We confess that our ways and our thoughts are not your ways and your thoughts.
We want to listen again to the voice of Jesus —
that we might turn from hate and become generous;
that we might turn from lust and become sincere;
that we might turn from anger and become loving.
Lord we drop these at your feet and ask you to forgive us.
Restore to us the joy of Your salvation and fill us with Your Spirit that we might bear the good fruit Jesus has made possible.
Nothing is impossible with you.
We pray for your peace in the hearts of many being drawn toward violence in Northern Ireland, in Haiti, and in Myanmar. Oh Lord, come. Raise up leaders who will put the brakes on the descent into dark days in which everyone just does as they see fit without regard for their neighbour or for the weak.
We lift up the dear people of Minneapolis who are reliving the trauma of death from the power welded by police. Oh God, how long!? Empower your church who know the Great Healer, to welcome, to care, to advocate, and to proclaim Jesus — gentle and humble — as Lord.
We know we need you Lord and so we pray as Jesus teaches us:
(Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever.
Amen.
This prayer was part of the Origin Church Weekend Broadcast on 16 April 2021.