This prayer sheet focuses on Jesus as our Good Shepherd, who calls us to follow in his footsteps and be good shepherds too.
For personal use or to share.
“I trust you”
A. OPENING PRAYER
The blessing of Father, Spirit, Son
Holy Trinity, Three in One,
be in our meeting
and in our greeting,
in the worship we share
and the words of our prayer. Amen.
B. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1)
We thank you, God,
for the invitation to pray.
We thank you that you bid us to come.
Before we ask you for anything,
we want to thank you for everything.
Thank you, for …
C. PRAYER OF CONFESSION
“If my people, who are called by my name,
will humble themselves,
pray, search for me,
and turn from their evil ways,
then I will hear from heaven,
forgive their sins,
and heal their country.” (2 Chron 7:14)
Let us confess our sins …
D. READING
E. PRAYER: GOOD SHEPHERD
“…he had compassion on them
because they were like sheep
without a shepherd.” (Mark 6:34)
Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you –
to care for those
who are close to us,
to protect those
who are threatened,
to welcome those
who are rejected,
to forgive those
who are burdened by guilt,
to heal those
who are broken and sick,
to share with those
who have little or nothing,
to take the time to really know
one another and love
as you have loved us.
Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you –
to spread compassion to those
who are far away,
to speak for those
who are voiceless,
to defend those
who are oppressed and abused,
to work for justice for those
who are exploited,
to make peace for those
who suffer violence,
to take the time to recognise
our connectedness,
and to love as you have loved us.
Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you
and to be faithful
to the calling
you gave us
to be shepherds
in your name.
Amen.
F. LET US PRAY
Samuel, when asked by the people to pray to God for them, responded,
“far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you”.
(1 Samuel 12:23)
Let us pray …
G. BENEDICTION
Go now, and embrace the hope
to which God has called us.
Recognise Christ in friend and stranger,
and as Christ has been gracious to you,
so be gracious to those in need.
And may God give you
a place of rest on rich pasture;
May Christ Jesus be the shepherd king who binds your wounds;
And may the Holy Spirit give you wisdom
and reveal to you the fullness of the one who fills all in all.
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
In the name of Christ.
Amen.
CREDITS
Illustration. http://marialaughlin.blogspot.com
A. by John Birch, posted on www.faithandworship.com
E. by John van de Laar, posted on Sacredise.com
G. by Nathan Nettleton, posted on LaughingBird.net
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 July 2015, and adapted for general use.
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