Call to Worship
Praising the Creator,
the songs of joy and hope
ring through our lives,
as we take pleasure
in the created world around
and in the tasks we do
as we discover more of who we are
and the abilities within each one.
Praising the Creator,
stories are shared
that speak of the moments
that have been difficult,
when we have been alone or bereft;
when we have failed to seek what is best for all
and chosen the easy road for a few.
Praising the Creator,
there is wonder
in discovering the generosity
of the One who made us,
as our faults are smoothed
and the rough path evened.
Praising the Creator,
let us worship God.
Opening Prayer
Gracious King of heaven,
You are to be praised
for ever and ever.
Your story
and presence within all of life
are to be shared with all,
as we wonder at the shape and form
of all that surrounds,
and wonder at Your patience
and generosity in the creation You have made.
In the friendships that support of lives,
in the food upon our tables,
in the festivities of each passing day,
Your goodness and abundance
are joyful received,
and celebrated.
Compassionate Companion,
in praising You
we notice the slowness of Your anger
and the richness of Your love,
for while our faults may cause a blemish
in the passing of each day,
You are faithful in Your promises.
As Your love pours into our lives,
our eyes are drawn to those ways in which we fail You:
the jealousy we feel at the abilities of another;
the greed we carry as we ensure we have enough;
the anger we hold when we feel we have been harshly treated.
Focus our eyes on Your generosity
that in seeking renewal with You
we may turn our lives towards You
and reflect Your love in all we seek to do.
Silence
Faithful Host,
You have made a space for all
within Your kingdom,
and You lift up those who are bowed down
with the weight of the world.
As we find forgiveness in Your promises
may we be emboldened
to live Your truth
as shown in Christ.
Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Inspired by the abundance of Your grace,
and Your generosity in loving us,
we bring our gifts to share.
While we might limit where love is shown,
You inspire us with the opportunity to grow towards the kingdom
when we welcome others in Your name.
Amen.
Prayers of the People
Giver of all good things,
you nourish us with goodness,
and bring out the best within all You have made.
Inspire us with love,
so that rather than trying to outdo one another,
we might instead take pleasure
in the hope we meet in the abilities of another.
Teach us to be patient,
and generous in our dealings with one another.
Inspire our country with prophets who speak the truth,
pointing out and standing against
the injustices that exist between individuals and communities.
We pray for those
who are the prophetic voices of our communities,
for journalists and political activists
who ask difficult questions
and search for the truth
where the lives of others are not valued or supported with respect.
May we find within ourselves
the power to be prophetic
whenever we are aware
that the values of Your kingdom
are not being lived within our lives.
We pray for generosity amongst the nations of our world.
The Autumn chill that surrounds us is more than the changing of a season,
instead it represents our hands being tied
as we struggle with how to respond
to the crisis we see across the globe.
As winds and storms continue to battle across the planet,
we pray for communities
that have been laid low in recent hurricanes;
for families displaced
and livelihoods lost.
In the chill winds and storming tempers
of Presidents and Supreme leaders,
we seek the warmth of Your patience
to break the battle of wills,
and ease the aggressive rhetoric.
In the chill of Europe’s reception to the possibilities of Brexit
may You throw wide the doors of communication
and encourage engaging and lively conversation.
Inspire our lives with generosity.
Here within this building
let us learn to value each other’s gifts and talents,
to offer them freely,
and to welcome those offered by others
even if we think they compete with what we do.
Help us to remember and learn from the gracious presence of Christ
show in the lives of those
who made us welcome
and encouraged us
to show glory to Christ
in the living of faith.
Amen.
