Prayer Vigil – Ordinary Sunday 17B

Prelude: Liszt, ‘Consolation No. 3’

GREETING AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

You know the grace of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
that though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor,
so that by his poverty we might become rich. (2 Cor. 8:9)

The grace of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
the love of God
and the friendship of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
And also with you.

Lighting the Christ candle.

Let us acknowledge the sovereign and unceded lands and waters
of First Nations peoples …

Placing the sticks from Gadigal land
and using the chat function to acknowledge Country …

We pay our respects to First Nations people
who may be present.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present,
and recognise the work of younger Indigenous leaders
in the community.

We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

There is no reconciliation without justice
and the telling of truths hard to hear.

There is much good work to do.

OPENING PRAYER

We watch and pray for the day
we can gather again as one.

We do this in solidarity
with those who are suffering,
caring for the sick,
mourning the death of loved ones;
with those most affected and isolated –
including thousands in south-west Sydney –
and with friends unable to connect
via digital means.

CONFESSION

Jesus,
You invited us, when tired, to come to you.

Despite all your goodness to us,
we do sometimes grow tired,
tired of our work
tired of life’s routine
tired of our failure
tired of our sin
tired even of ourselves.

We come to you for deliverance from our weariness.

May we find in you the source of new life
and a purpose in living it.

FORGIVENESS

Jesus says, “I am committing myself to you.”
Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Thanks be to God.

COLLECT

God of true abundance,
in whom nothing is lost
and all are fed:
liberate us
from meagre rations
of scarce and grudging love
for which we must compete;
show us another kindom
which stills our all-consuming fear
and fills us with new hope;
through Jesus Christ,
the peace of creation.
Amen.

SONG ‘Do not be afraid’ (AOV2/73)

Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you by your name, you are mine.
I have called you by your name, you are mine.

The Lord is my light and my help;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before whom shall I shrink?

Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you by your name, you are mine.
I have called you by your name, you are mine.

There is one thing I asked of the Lord;
for this I long:
To live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life.

Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you by your name, you are mine.
I have called you by your name, you are mine.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Hope in God! Hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord.

Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you by your name, you are mine.
I have called you by your name, you are mine.