Prayers - 24th January

OK I really haven't put much material up here, in fact I have been producing stuff every week but I just rarely get round to posting it.

Today I have two prayers - one taken from parts of Wild Goose Worship Group's Wee Worship Book, the other adapted and developed from a prayer of Eusebius (3rd century).

In the beginning,
before time, before people,
before the world began –
God Was

Here and now,
among us, beside us,
enlisting the people of earth for the purposes of heaven,
God Is

In the future, when we have turned to dust,
and all we know has found its fulfillment,
God Will Be

Not denying the world, but delighting in it,
not condemning the world, but redeeming it,
through Jesus Christ,
by the power of the Holy Spirit
God Was; God Is; God will be

And so God, we pray:
Because you made the world,
and intended it to be a good place
And called its people your children
Because, when things seemed at their worst,
you came in Christ to bring out the best in us;
so, gracious God, we gladly say:
Goodness is stronger than evil
Love is stronger than hate
Light is stronger than darkness
Truth is stronger than lies.

Because confusion can reign inside us, despite our faith;
because anger, tension, bitterness and envy distort our vision;
because our minds sometimes worry small things out of all proportion;
because we do not always get it right,
we want to believe
Goodness is stronger than evil
Love is stronger than hate
Light is stronger than darkness
Truth is stronger than lies.

Because you have promised to hear us,
and are able to change us,
and are willing to make our hearts your home,
we ask you to confront, control
forgive and encourage us, as you know best.
[pause]
Then let us cherish in our hearts
that which we proclaim with our lips:
Goodness is stronger than evil
Love is stronger than hate
Light is stronger than darkness
Truth is stronger than lies.

Lord hear our prayer, and change our lives, until we illustrate the grace of the God who makes all things new. And hear us as we pray using the words Jesus taught his disciples, saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever, Amen.


Gracious and Loving God,
May we be no one’s enemy, and may we be the friend of that which is eternal and abides
May we never quarrel with those nearest us, and if we do, may we be reconciled quickly
May we love, seek and attain only that which is good
May we wish for all people’s happiness, and envy none.
May we never rejoice in the ill-fortune of one who has wronged us.
When we have done or said what is wrong, may we never wait for the rebuke of others, but always rebuke ourselves until we make amends
May we avoid and repent of hypocrisy and legalism
May we win no victory that harms either us or our opponents
May we reconcile friends who are angry with one another
May we, to the extent of our powers, give all needful help to our friends, our neighbours, and to all who are in want.
May we never fail friends who are in danger
When visiting those in grief, may we be able by gentle and healing words to soften their pain.
May we respect ourselves, and others.
May we always keep tame that which rages within us
May we accustom ourselves to be gentle, and never be angry with people because of circumstances.
May we never discuss who we call wicked and what wicked things they have done, but know good people and follow in their footsteps.
May we not simply hear about or see news from abroad, but feel, empathise and respond as best we can.
Lord God may our attitudes be changed by our prayers, so that our fine words lead to fresh actions, that benefit your people, your world, your kingdom. Amen.