Abstract
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:2–3.)
Living God
Creator, Redeemer, Friend,
In this time of worship
We reach out to You in prayer,
Unsure of our welcome,
Faltering in our words,
Yet hungry to know more about You, about ourselves, about this amazing world
Of sun and rain, sea and land, mountain and valley,
That You have given us to inhabit;
And thirsting to discover more about Your eternal purposes.
Help us to see that, as we stumble towards You,
You are already reaching out to us in love that will not let go;
Circling us in Your embrace,
Raising us up,
Cradling us in Your arms as a mother would her infant child;
Longing to satisfy our hunger and thirst, to fill us with good things.
In this time of worship
Speak Your Word into our hearts
Loose the cords that tie us to earthly goods
Strengthen the bonds that draw us towards Your reign of love
That our words, our actions, our lives
Might better reflect the warmth and tenderness of Your compassion
In Jesus name we pray.
(This could be read by two/three voices, or the whole congregation reading ‘We say’ part)
Loving God
‘Be on your guard against all kinds of greed’
‘I need to earn enough to be able to relax, eat, drink and be merry’
Pause
‘Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions’
‘This house isn’t big enough for all our stuff—we’ll have to move’
Pause
‘Do not store up treasures for yourselves’
I must look out that old vase from the attic and donate it to the Church silent auction’
Pause
‘Sell all you have and give the money to the poor’
‘I put a donation into the foodbank collection every time I visit the supermarket’
Pause
‘This very day your life is demanded of you’
‘There are too many people depending on me—perhaps in a few years’ time when there are fewer pressures’
Pause
‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.’
‘Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy’
Pause
‘Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do’
Pause
Pray for those who have plenty as well as those who do not have enough.
Psalm 50:1–6 could be read responsively.
Lord God,
We give You thanks for these summer months
When the days are long and the nights are short
When the darkness is pushed aside by the light;
A time of relaxation, and refreshment,
A time when work pressures ease
Freeing us for the company of family and friends
And the simple pleasures of the outdoors.
We give You thanks too
for the promises of treasure in heaven
contained in your Word;
For Your desire that human beings should share in Your reign of love.
Even as we rest, keep us alert to Your love entering our lives
In the ordinary and the less ordinary
For then rest and relaxation will become recreation and renewal.
Aware of Your unconditional love
We offer now to You our gifts
Of time and talents and money
Purify them and our hearts by Your refining fire
That our whole lives may become offerings
Dedicated to the work of Your kingdom
Not for our glory but for Yours.
And we pray now for the growth of Your reign of love in the world,
That evil might cease,
And we would learn to do good and seek justice
We remember those who are oppressed
By war or violence
By persecution or discrimination
By the demands of wealth
By the pursuit of leisure
By physical, mental or spiritual illness,
By loneliness, anxiety or worry about the future.
Help us to stand up against all that would diminish the lives of others.
We remember those who are orphaned
The cries of children sound around our world today
In our cities and in our countryside
Deserted by parents
Mistreated by families
Neglected by society
Easy prey to drug dealers
The target of abuse in person or on the dark web.
Help us to defend the weak and the vulnerable.
We remember those whose lives are impoverished
Those whose income renders them dependent on foodbanks
Those who have no homes or work
Refugees and asylum seekers
Those to whom death has dealt a cruel blow
Those who have difficulty forming relationships
Those whose relationships have broken down
Help us to plead their cause in a world where injustice spirals.
Encourage us by the example of Your faithful people
Who have touched our lives
And who have now entered Your nearer presence
Keep us focussed on Your kingdom
Until that day when we shall be one with You and all your saints
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Look to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1b–2.)
(If there is a facility for visuals, then photographs of the different logos could be displayed at the appropriate points. Different voices could be employed for different sign.s)
‘Red sky at night to the shepherd’s delight’
The red glow of an evening sunset
Heralds the hours of rest and sleep
And whispers of the promise contained
In the dawning of each day
Of a new beginning
A fresh start.
‘Red sky in the morning to the shepherd’s warning’
A fresh start, a new beginning
What will we do with it?
What challenges will it bring?
What will be expected of us this day?
How will we see God at work within it?
The ancient signs of the times still speak to us
But what of the signs of the present age?
An apple with a bite out of it
Opens our minds to knowledge beyond our wildest dreams
Yet tempts us to adapt to the culture of ‘I’.
A padlock on the computer screen
Promises us security
But do we really to need to make that purchase?
A circle of recycling arrows
Encourages us to think about how we use the resources of this world
Can we become better stewards?
A large tick—the emblem of the goddess of victory
Calls us to run towards the winning line of health and fitness
But is this the only race?
A blank wall where an empty wooden cross used to hang
Removed because it might cause offence to some
Or because it was too challenging for us?
Does absence say more than presence taken for granted?
The signs of the times?
Help us to read them today
For the world’s sake
Amen.
Leader: In You, o Lord, I take refuge,
(Taizee chant, ‘Bless the Lord, o my soul…’, as sung response)
Eternal God
Beyond time and space
Every day is Your day
Every day is a day for healing
Your people
And loving and creating them anew
But today we come together
As Your people
To worship You.
Saviour God
Entering time and space
Every day is Your day
Every day is a day
when You seek to raise us up
Offering forgiveness and new life
But today we come together
To hear your Word
Calling us by name and inviting us to follow Jesus.
Living God
Filling time and space
With the fire and flame of your love
Every day is Your day
Every day is a day when You breathe Your Spirit
Into hearts and minds
Inspiring lives that worship and serve You
But today we come together
In Jesus name
To respond to Your touch of intangible love in our lives