This prayer sheet brings together prayers on the theme of God’s power to transform lives and circumstances and his ultimate purpose and promise to make all things new.
A. CALL TO WORSHIP
(inspired by Matt 11:29 and Rev 21:5)
Come all who are weary
of wealth, of poverty,
of power, of struggle, of division
Come all who are heavy-laden
with too much, with too little,
with anxiety, with fear, with anger
Come all who have hope
for liberation, for peace,
for freedom, for the kingdom
Hear these words
“See, I am making all things new.”
B. SONG (link to music in credits below)
Yesterday, today, forever
Jesus is the same
All may change but Jesus never
Glory to His Name.
He’s the same
through the rise and fall of nations.
He’s the same,
whether I believe or doubt.
He’s the same
through all the changing seasons,
And His faithfulness and mercy
won’t run out.
Yesterday, today, forever …
C. PRAYER OF CONFESSION
(based on John 18:15-18, 25-27; 19:1-3)
Lord we deny you
each time we refuse to see you
in the faces of the hungry and the homeless.
May the old in us pass away
and all things become new.
Lord we betray you
each time we keep our distance
from the anguish of the oppressed
and the persecuted.
May the old in us pass away
and all things become new.
Lord we mock you
each time we pretend we do not know
how radically you call us to live.
May the old in us pass away
and all things become new.
Lord, we have strayed from your path.
Welcome us into your forgiving arms
and make us new.
May the old in us pass away
and all things become new.
Through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
D. PRAYER
In the beginning God created all things,
and God saw that they were good.
At our beginning, God created us
unique and irreplaceable,
loved and wanted by God,
known and treasured by God
even before He created us.
In all our new beginnings,
God creates something new
Lord God, King of Creation,
open our eyes to see your presence,
open our souls to sense your presence,
and open our hearts to love your presence,
here in this life,
and beyond it in eternity.
Amen.
E. READING
Rev 21:1-5a
F. LET US PRAY
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” (Col 1:13)
Let us pray …
G. CLOSING PRAYER
Loving God,
we ask your blessing on those
for whom we have prayed,
and also on the many
who never capture our attention
or make it into our prayers.
Through our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
who promises to make all things new.
Amen
H. BENEDICTION
May grace and peace be ours in abundance,
in the knowledge of God
and of Jesus our Lord.
May we be thankful for simple things,
for friendship, for health,
for daily bread, for good news.
May we go from this place to pursue goodness,
wisdom, holiness and love.
God the Creator,
call us to the work of the kingdom.
God the Redeemer,
keep us from stumbling.
God the Sustainer,
transform and inspire us.
God of wonders, make all things new.
Amen
CREDITS
The following resources found on https://re-worship.blogspot.com/ and adapted for this prayer sheet:
A. from I Am Making All Things New, written by Rosie Venner. Posted on the WSCF Europe website. http://wscf-europe.org/mozaik-issues/mozaik-25-the-powers-that-be/worship-i-am-making-all-things-new/
C. from the website of Patmos Abbey—The Order of Saint Columba. Posted on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank “Weekly Prayer” page.
D. Adapted from Liturgy of Creation (http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/liturgies/creation.htm). Posted on Third Space blog. http://third-space.org.uk/blog
G. adapted … from Copyright © B.D.Prewer 2010. Posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/DocC/C55sun26.htm
H. Written by Rosie Venner, from I Am Making All Things New. Posted on the WSCF Europe website
http://wscf-europe.org/mozaik-issues/mozaik-25-the-powers-that-be/worship-i-am-making-all-things-new/
B. SONG. for notation and recording http://www.irenebom.com/songwriter/song.php?song_id=67
Prayer sheet prepared by Rev. Irene Bom, OLM in International Presbytery of the Church of Scotland.
First used in Scots International Church Rotterdam at the monthly prayer service in January 2016, and adapted for general use.