Isaiah 61 prayers

Leader: The Spirit of God the Master is upon us Because he has anointed us He has sent us to preach good news to the poor

All: Here I am, Lord, send me

He has sent us to heal the broken hearted

All: Here I am, Lord, send me

He has sent us to announce freedom for all captives

All: Here I am, Lord, send me

He has sent us to pardon all prisoners

All: Here I am, Lord, send me

God is announcing the year of His grace

All: Here I am, Lord, send me

Leader: God’s plan of redemption is at work in our world

All: He brings bouquets of roses instead of ashes He sends messages of joy instead of news of doom He seeks a praising heart instead of a languid spirit

Leader: God rebuild the ancient ruins. He renews the ancient paths

All: Bring renewal to the broken Bring refreshing to the desert Bring redemption to the lost

Leader: Son of man, can these bones live?

All: Lord, you alone know.

Amen

Prayer for the Refugee

Intercessions:

Jesus came to our home, son of a poor carpenter, to an unmarried mother in an occupied land. He ministered to the poor and broken, but often had nothing himself. He was technically homeless, practically poor.

Today it is estimated that 34million people are forced to live away from their homes due to war, politics or oppression. 12 million of those are refugees who have had to leave their home country and the majority will be living in camps or temporary shelter. In Iraq, at the height of the conflict there 60,000 lost their homes every month. 80% of refugees are women and children.

Leader: Lord, we are your gathered people, come together to be one with refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people whose lives have been dislocated by war, famine and injustice. By our presence here we express our solidarity with them in their search for a new life, a new home, a new promise.

All: Lord clear our eyes that we may see the suffering of the refugee. Open our ears that we may hear the cries of those deep in despair. Release our feet that we may walk on paths where some comfort we may spread. Unloose our tongues that we might speak your words of hope and love. Give us open hearts that we may be truly hospitable to the stranger in our midst.

Your love endures forever

For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish and have eternal life.

ALL: You are good, Your love endures forever.

The God who is love created our world and made us for relationship with him He created a Garden to be our home but we rejected his love.

ALL: You are good, Your love endures forever.

The God who is love spoke to Abram and made a promise. He called him to be the father of many nations. In love he was thinking of us.

ALL: You are good, Your love endures forever.

Through the prophets and the law, God showed us the way of love But the people chose religion and rebellion, So our God of love came to us as a man He who is love came to be our servant.

ALL: You are good, Your love endures forever.

Jesus showed us the way of love, Welcoming sinners and outcasts and inviting them into his family. At the cross he once again invited us home.

ALL: You are good, Your love endures forever.

For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish and have eternal life.

ALL: You are good, Your love endures forever.

Finding God in Daily Life - liturgy from the Reconcile community in Reading

In the name of the Father And of the Son And of the Holy Spirit Amen.

Opening Prayer

Leader: Incarnate God, Emmanuel All: Come to us Lord Jesus.

Leader: The whole earth is wrapped in darkness All people sunk in deep darkness

All: Come to us Lord Jesus, we will go with you Lord Jesus

Leader: Not long ago we were despised, out of the way, unvisited, ignored. But now God has put us on our feet. The outcast has become the great nation, the weakling has become strong He promises “I am God. At the right time I will make it happen”

All: Praise you Lord You come to us when we call on you You call each one of us to follow you You send us to the world You are faithful, we will follow you.

Reading

John 1:1-18

.... find words or phrases that speak to you.

Perspective Prayers

“In the beginning was the Word .....”

How can God give us perspective in our lives?

Presence Prayers

Present God, Who is Himself God-Family. Who walked in the garden. Who promised Abraham family in the midst of barreness. Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush. Who went with his people Israel, by cloud and by fire. Who dwelt in the Tabernacle And whose glory resided in the Holy of Holies. Who was silent for 400 years. Who called John to point the way to a coming presence. Who became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood. Who died and rose again, tearing the curtain in two. Who birthed the church. Who resides in us through his Spirit, As we become temples of His presence. We welcome you. Amen

Leader: God, the Creator, create in us a pure heart today. All: Amen Lord, so be it. Leader: Christ, our Emmanuel, be God with us today. All: Amen Lord, so be it Leader: Holy Spirit, the Breath of God, fill us and send us out this day. All: Amen Lord, so be it.

Place prayers

God has placed me in Reading. What do you see?

Leader: I’ve posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem, day and night. They keep at it, praying, calling out, reminding God to remember. They are to give Him no peace until he does what he said, Until he makes Jerusalem a city of praise

For the starving and hungry Refrain: We call out to you; we will give you no rest

For the ill-treated and abused

For the displaced, the migrant, the rejected, for the prejudiced against

For the slaves to debt

For the sex worker

For the lost

For the sake of your kingdom, we will pray, we will call out, we will remind you of your promises. We will give ourselves no rest and we will give you no rest until your kingdom comes. Amen