Saturday Prayers: September 22nd – 23rd, 2018
18th Sunday after Pentecost
God has called us through the Gospel, so that we may share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2. 14.
Almighty God, you have created the heavens, the earth, and humanity in your image. Teach us to discern your hand in all your works and to serve you with reverence and thanksgiving through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Come and journey with a Saviour who has called us from our birth, who has washed us in the waters, and who loved us on the earth. Come and journey, journey inward, come and seek him deep within, where he meets us in our living, in our striving, in our sin. Come and journey, journey outward, telling others of his name, of his cross and of the shame. Come and journey, journey upward, where the cross calls us to care, where injustice and where hunger and the poor call us to share. We are all God’s sons and daughters, in the spirit we are one. (Herbert O’Driscoll)
Holy and loving God, You have brought us together in this sacred moment to pray with friends around the world, to lift all people into the presence of your peace and love; look with compassion upon those living in distress and danger caused by floods, storms, earthquakes, fires, and the rushing mighty wind. Stretch forth we pray your calming spirit upon the world and help us to live together aware of each other’s needs, stretching forth holy healing hands of blessing, care, and healing grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord and may His peace be within us all. Amen.
Friday, September 21st. St. Matthew’s Day
You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. Acts 1. 8.
Almighty God, who through your Son called Matthew to be your apostle and evangelist, free us from all greed and selfish love that we may follow in the steps of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Our prayers for those living in storm struck places:
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life of whom then shall I be afraid?
One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Be strong and he shall comfort your soul, wait patiently for the Lord. (Selected verses from Psalm 27)
Lord Jesus, who walked upon the water and reached out, to your disciples in distress, calming them with your presence, we pray for you to reach out your Almighty Hand to those who are in danger and distress in these troubled times; be the strength within them to restore their lives and lively-hood, set free from fear and distress, those who are in danger, walk with them, Lord, and let us all respond to your goodness in the land of the living; Lord Jesus be our Light and our Salvation Amen.
Blessings,
nnDnn Archdeacon Ron Matthewman, Vicar General Emeritus
OSMTH-I
