Heavenly Father,
Your Spirit hovered over the deep and brought life forward at your word. You breathed life into people and by the call of your Son Jesus we have gathered as your children. Thank you for this grace that has brought us into your communion — the communion of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
You have broken the chains that bound us and delivered us into the freedom of your Kingdom. Now may love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control be formed in our characters.
We bring all that is opposed to the life of the Holy Spirit to the Cross of Christ and contemplate His crucifixion. We drop these deathly ways, so inadequate for the way of Jesus, and ask that you would forgive us and reshape us in your image.
Your grace abounds.
Come Lord Jesus.
You have lifted us up out of the slimy pit and set our feet on a secure rock.
You have lifted up our heads. You are our Shepherd.
You are our glory and our delight.
Praise the Lord!
We lift up to you the people in conflict in Myanmar, and Ethiopian and Tigray, and Syria. Oh Lord would you raise up men and women with hearts full of peace toward you and each other. Disable the war machine that looks for markets to ply their weapons of death. May we set our minds and our economies on how to do good.
We know how fragile neighbourly love and generosity can be. Our hearts are desperately deceitful. So, may your good news keep bearing fruit in your church across the world. And may your Spirit apply your power to change in us. So we pray…
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.