Sunday 24th May 2015 – Pentecost B (4)

Prayers of the People

Gracious Creator,

we offer our thanks

for our encounters with Your presence

that have brought us new knowledge,

or much needed comfort and hope.

In the familiar of each day

You make us creative and diverse

full of energy,

as we fulfil the potential

of all You might hope for us.

 

We thank You

for those who have brought Your Spirit

to our lives

disturbing us from comfortable places

that we might better know and serve You.

And we thank You for those who have brought us hope,

assuring us

that something new is waiting,

and holding our hands

until we are ready to step

into a new future.

 

Lord of wind and flame,

Heavenly Dove,

All-consuming Fire,

Your story speaks of freedom, peace and change

as people and nations

find themselves

divided by war, creed,

differences and anger.

As Your story continues

to be told

in the activity of Your church

in our world today,

may Your Guiding Spirit lead us in our prayers and activity,

and find ways of stepping into

the difficult situations

where we seek new vision.

 

As one congregation in Dunfermline,

and within the Church of Scotland,

may we remember that while we are called to serve You in this place,

that Your Spirit binds us together

with others

to offer support and courage in all we say and do.

We remember those from congregations across the country

and the world who at times seems so different from us,

and yet all hope to offer the presence of Christ in the story they tell.

 

May Your presence enter the lives

of those who have no homes today.

We remember the people of Nepal

as the continue to grieve, and search

and attempt to rebuild their lives.

We pray for those who are able to offer support

in the skills they bring.

 

Transforming Spirit,

we remember those who long for their lives to be transformed,

as they feel they are crippled with debt

or burdened with the uncertainty of livelihood.

May we learn to respond with integrity,

recognising the diverse nature of our communities,

and ensure that those who need resources

that bring relief from anxiety

are shown signs of compassion.

 

Spirit of challenge,

as You challenge us

to new thoughts,

may You also challenge

those who hold the power.

May they hear the voices of discontent and abandonment,

and respond to the truth of need.

 

Compassionate and Caring Spirit,

who reaches out to those

who feel that they are lost

in the storm of the world in which they live,

bring peace to the anxious,

comfort to the bereaved,

and hope to those who are in pain.

May we all leap and life

when we find your joy in our lives

and take confidence

in all we know of Your love.

Amen.

Sunday 24th May 2015 – Pentecost B (3)

Offertory Prayer

Lord of many people,

of many languages,

of many needs,

many questions,

Your Spirit brings us to the unity

of what it means to serve You.

In the offering we bring,

and the lives that we will live,

may we speak with one voice

of our common purpose

to bring the knowledge

of the love of God

shown in Jesus Christ

to all people.

Amen

Sunday 24th May 2015 – Pentecost B (2)

Opening Prayer

Holy Spirit of God,

engulfing creation with the grace of God,

Your presence transforms life

bringing new energy and vigour

to tired and empty people and places.

Enflamed with a desire

to bring the presence of God

into every heart and community

You step out of expectations

and reach out

in unexpected ways

to speak of the work of the Creator

in unusual places.

 

Dancing in our time of worship,

You, Creative Spirit,

inspire us to have hope

in what we already know of God,

that we might bring peace and comfort

to times of uncertainty and unrest.

And in times of contentment,

you are the Urging Prompt

that stirs us

to never settle with what suits us,

but instead to open our arms

and embrace diversity and challenge.

 

At times we are impetuous

and do not listen for the call of Your Spirit

as we speak and act without thinking

and bring hurt and anxiety

into the lives of those we know.

But we are also complacent,

and do not respond to the call

fearing that we will not live up to the tasks

to which You invite us to participate.

 

Silence

 

Enflamed with the forgiveness of God

who call us from the darkness

of the barriers we have placed around us,

the Lord invites us

to sparkle with faith

and speak in joy

of the promise found in lives shared with Christ.

Amen.

Sunday 24th May 2015 – Pentecost B

Call to Worship

How many are the works of God,
who in His wisdom made all creatures.
The earth and sea so cast and spacious
spill with life,
both large and small.

The needs of all are supplied
from the generosity of the Lord’s hand,
as He satisfies with all good things.
When we feel part from our Creator,
we are lost and afraid,
uncertain of the future.
The Spirit of God comes
to renew the earth
with life
and the assurance of the Creator’s love.

So may we remember the enduring nature
of the glory of the Lord,
and rejoice in the One
who shakes us from our self-satisfaction.
Let us sing praise to the One,
who accompanies our living.

Praise the Lord, O my soul.

Praise the Lord.