CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 111

MUSIC
Curated by Curtis Muller
I Believe - Bethel Music
O Praise The Name - Hillsong
A Thousand Hallelujahs - Brooke Ligertwood
King of Kings - Hillsong

COMMUNITY PRAYER
by Jeremy Duncan

Gracious God,

We are not altogether convinced that darkness is a thing of the past.
At times, this world of ours is one of darkness and hurt.
Pressures crowd in upon us and threaten to overwhelm us.

And those causes are varied:
bereavement, illness, money, worries about family, trouble at work or perhaps not finding work,
addictions, boredom, doubt, weariness, futility.

Not to mention the world that surrounds us with war, poverty, climate change, disease, and unfair trade.
And it does not help at times that as Christians we should be doing so much better than we are.

And so, Gracious and loving God, we rejoice that you are with us in our troubles,
That you know us and you love us – always.
We are grateful that when we have made a mess of things, both personally and collectively, you remain faithful.

In this we are thankful that your Son came not to a perfect world, but to a broken world, our world.
To bring light to the darkness, our darkness.
We pray that you would come alongside all those for whom we pray,
That you would show us Jesus, the light of the world,
The one who came (and who comes) to rid us of sin,
To gift us new life and offer to us peace that passes all understanding,
Not simply a respite from trouble, but the courageous peace to challenge what is broken
And bring your justice near to those who need it.

We know you don’t wave a magic wand for everything to be sorted instantly,
But you do invite us to exercise our trust, to respond to your good news,
To live and look to you for the strength that we need to share your grace.

Help us to be your good news in our word and action,
Help us to know we have been set free from the need for violence and strife,
Help us to use that freedom to share in the bringing of your kingdom.

Hear us in a moment of silence as we each name the spaces we need your peace today.

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Hear our prayers, Lord, spoken and unspoken.

In the strong name of the risen Christ.

Amen