Prayers for Assembly
Opening Worship
Closing Prayer and Blessing
Standing in God’s presence as our Assembly begins,
we stand in memory of those who died a year ago this day in the London
bombings.
We stand in memory of those killed in violence in Iraq, Israel, and Gaza
in the days immediately after London trembled.
We stand in memory of those who lost their struggles to live far from
camera crews and headlines.
We take our stand alongside all who cherish life, build peace, and forge
justice.
We give thanks for one another, and for those who are guests amongst us.
Gracious God,
may we, your graced children, listen well for your word to us, listen
well to the cries and longings of your creation, and listen well to your
Spirit’s voice upon our lips these days.
May the blessing of Almighty God rest upon us all, now, and for ever.
Amen.
Assembly Worship
Friday Evening Prayers
Call to Worship
At the end of this beginning,
after a long day of travelling,
at the culmination of such preparation,
we rest.
We rest in fellowship newly-forged and relationships begun and beginning.
We rest in God,
who is the reason for our gathering,
who is the source of our travelling,
who is the goal of our pilgrimage across the agenda of these days.
We rest,
and we worship.
Hymn “How shall I sing that majesty…”
Bible Reading Psalm 40: 1-6, 13-17
Prayers
Gracious God, present in all creation,
we pray for your world and your Church.
Awaken us to the pain of those in poverty,
the distress of those in nations burdened by debt,
the sick, the sorrowing, victims of violence and war.
May we discover our common humanity with them
and learn the art of finding Jesus in each sister and brother.
Where your people have lost their way
and fallen into decline or complacency,
give them eyes to see
and ears to hear your summons to mission.
Where your Church is vibrant and growing,
give your people confidence to share with others
the lessons they are learning.
Where a church has closed
give your people thankfulness for the past
and willingness to embrace new possibilities.
Give us courage and humour for what lies ahead.
Fill us with wisdom to face the world
and childlike trust in the power and goodness
of your ultimate purposes for all you have made.
In the name of Jesus Christ, and through the power of your Spirit.
Amen.
Hymn “He came down that we may have love…”
Blessing
May the blessing of God almighty,
Creator, Saviour, Sustainer,
rest upon us this night
and upon all our work and worship
done in God’s name.
May God give us light to guide us,
courage to support us,
and love to unite us,
now and for evermore.
Amen.
Prayer for New Ministers and Jubilee Ministers
“Follow me,” you say,
And we hardly dare to imagine that the call is for all your children. But
it is.
“Follow me,” you say,
And we hardly know what such a call might mean. But it means so much.
“Follow me,” you say,
And we scarcely dream where such a journey will take us. But all will be
well.
Jesus, your call carries so clearly across the years that it shocks us
into praise.
For you love us so much that, out of our frailty, you draw ministry.
Thank you for these women and men whose ministry we treasure, whose
service we honour, and whose calling we affirm.
Bless them with hope and sustain them in their journey.
Give them the wisdom to lead your people and the creativity to embrace
our wounded world.
Guide them as they unfold the treasures of your Gospel through their
living and their ministries.
Inspire them with visions of God’s reign that light the stuff of life
with the gleam of heaven.
Nurture in them through your Spirit’s kiss the humility and love that
speaks of you, and confounds evil.
Fill them with all joy and peace as they continue to lead the life of
faith, that they may overflow with hope.
Let your grace cascade through them, that grace might cradle those with
whom they serve.
May we who celebrate this moment with them know our own callings and
service affirmed by what we share in here, and by what these sisters and
brothers inspire in us.
“Follow me,” you say.
And our “Yes” sustains the Church.
“Follow me,” you say.
And, in Christ’s name, with the Spirit’s strength, in bold humility, we
do. Amen.
General
Assembly, 2006
Saturday Evening Prayers
Call to Worship
We remember what 2005 meant. But a year was never
going to be enough. Was it? We, who relish the short-term and the instant
answer, come in worship before you, O God of eternity. And we share your
rage and anguish at our world’s inhumanity. We weep with you. And, with you,
we will not let justice slide, nor let despair defeat your purposes. With
you, we will not stop until your kingdom come!
Prayer of Intercession
[Begin with the three-second finger snap of Make
Poverty History, with these words…
COUNT TO THREE (SNAP) COUNT TO THREE (SNAP) COUNT THE
COST (SNAP) COUNT THE PRICE (SNAP) FEEL THE LOSS (SNAP) A LIFE ENDS (SNAP) A
LIFE ENDS (SNAP) PRICELESS LOSS (SNAP) GHASTLY WASTE (SNAP) SHAMEFUL TRUTH
(SNAP) YAWNING WOUND (SNAP) COUNT TO THREE (SNAP) COUNT THE COST (SNAP) A
LIFE HAS ENDED (SNAP) IT MUST STOP (SNAP)]
Jesus, we think of your model of ministry.
We think of your take on mission.
And nothing in you, no part of your ministry, no
element of your missionary journey teaches us to resign ourselves to people
being trampled upon.
Nothing in what you have unveiled to us of the coming
reign of God bids us let go of hope.
So, in hope and passionate faithfulness, we remember
your world and its people.
We remember all dying in the ticking seconds of this
prayer from the nightmare extremes of poverty.
We remember how debt cripples, how environmental
change is a catastrophe, how the arms trade perverts priorities, and how
violence and terror turn children into soldiers, families into refugees, and
humanity into darkness.
We remember the web of relationships and dependencies
that bind and cradle our world, and all those who seek to build a fair
future.
We remember all those whose hearts are moved and
actions are bold in the causes of justice and peace for all your children.
We remember that you called disciples not simply to be
prayers, but players.
In your name, Lord, we pray for the help,
encouragement and provocation to never tire of making poverty history.
Amen.
Prayer of Praise and Confession
So to you we come, dear God.
We come with the song of salvation on our lips and the joy of your
blessing in our hearts.
You have given to us so much, revealed so much of yourself to us, issued
us such astounding welcomes.
In silence, but together, we offer our adoration.
(silence)
All praise and honour be to you, God who knows us all so well.
And, in your knowing, we are laid bare.
Praise is not our only song.
Sin stalks our lives as it stalks our world, and we succumb.
We come in confession before you, aware of the guilt that is our own, and
the guilt that is shared.
For our world is so far from your perfection.
Brokenness is our burden, and it hurts.
Dear God, in your mercy, hear now our confessions.
(silence)
Sisters and brothers, hear these words in which to trust your life.
Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.
To all who truly repent, who turn around and come home to God, he says,
“You are forgiven.”
He also says, “Follow me.”
To Jesus Christ, who loves us and has set us free from our sins with his
blood, who has made of us a royal house to serve as the priests of his God,
to him be the glory and dominion for ever.
Amen.
Monday Morning Worship
Call to Worship
“Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.”
A thief cries out on a cross,
Crossing the line from death to life,
Despair to hope,
Wilderness to haven.
Let it be our cry…
“Jesus, remember us, remember our cherished United Reformed Church, when
you come into your kingdom.”
Hymn 13 “O for a thousand tongues to sing…” (first 2 and last 2 verses)
Bible Study
Prayer of Confession (page 3)
Postcards
Give thanks for something from this Assembly
Prayer of thanksgiving
Hymn 11 “Jesus be the centre…”
Blessing
Grace abounds!
It is your touch, living God, upon our lives.
It is the imprint of salvation.
It is the treasure you entrust to us.
It is why there is a United Reformed Church.
It is the reason for our persistence,
And the source of our hope.
It is all because of you.
We fumble for a future, but this we know…
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saves wretches like us,
Who once were lost, but now are found.
Were blind, but now we see.
Amen.
General Assembly
Closing Worship
Opening Prayer
Children of God.
Created and creative.
Forgiven and forgiving.
Graced and gracious.
Let us worship God.
Hymn 3 “Behold, behold, I make all things new…”
Reading
1 Kings 8: 22
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole
assembly of Israel, spread out his hands towards heaven and said:
O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on
earth below - you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who
continue wholeheartedly in your way.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for the journey of these days.
Thank you for the sisters and brothers who have been such good
companions.
Thank you for the business we have been enabled to do, the decisions we
have made, the celebrations and the heartaches we have shared.
Send us out with a sure hope in changing times,
A strong faith equal to tomorrow’s challenge.
Send us out not to defend our church, but to open it ever more fully to
the refreshing tornado of your Spirit.
Send us out with restless visions of your reign,
And with lives rededicated in your service.
For you are truly the living God, the one who keeps your covenant of love
with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.
Send us out, in the power of your Spirit, and in the name of your Son.
Amen.
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