This prayer sheet offers a prayerful response to the deep-seated needs of all those with a broken heart.
For personal use or to share.
A. SONG
Holy Spirit come
Make my eyes to see
Make my ears to hear
Make my mouth to speak
Make my heart to seek
and my hands to reach out
and touch the world with your love.
B. CALL TO WORSHIP
We come in faith to worship Christ
who proclaims good news to the poor,
binds up the broken-hearted,
frees the prisoner
and comforts those who mourn.
We come in thanksgiving to worship Christ
who bestows a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
We come in hope to worship Christ
who rebuilds ancient ruins
and restores broken places.
C. PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Creator God,
You created the earth, whole and round;
You created us to be whole people.
But we have become fragmented,
cracked and broken.
We have been broken by false promises,
lost relationships, shattered trust.
We have become cracked with the experience of systemic sin:
prejudice, oppression and fear.
We have become fragmented,
building up walls
instead of lending hands.
Forgive us when we have
done the breaking,
heal us where we have been hurt.
Let Your light shine
through our cracks and scars
so that we might bring light to the world,
showing that in You we are made whole.
In You we find healing.
In You we find renewed life.
Help us to forgive, to love, to mend.
Amen.
D. READING
E. PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
From Bethlehem to Nazareth,
from Jordan to Jericho,
from Bethany to Jerusalem,
from then to now,
come, Lord Jesus.
To heal the sick,
to mend the broken-hearted,
to comfort the disturbed,
to disturb the comfortable,
to cleanse the temple,
to liberate faith from convention,
come, Lord Jesus.
To carry the cross,
to lead the way,
to shoulder the sin of the world
and take it away,
come, Lord Jesus.
Today, to this place, to us,
come, Lord Jesus.
Amen
F. LET US PRAY
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Let us pray …
G. CLOSING AFFIRMATION
We believe the time is now
to go into the world and face the darkness
We believe the moment is right
to face the powers of the world
with the love of heaven
We believe the place is here
to endure the suffering love calls us to
We believe the path is before us
to side with truth in a deafened world
We believe the hour is come
to conspire with Christ
and move against injustice
We believe the gospel is this:
love is betrayed but death
shall not have the final word
H. BENEDICTION
May God be merciful to you and bless you;
may He smile with kindness upon you,
that His ways may be known
throughout the earth,
and His saving power
among people everywhere.
CREDITS
B. by Phil Whyte, Holy City Planning Group, and posted on re-worship.blogspot.com
C. by Rev. Mindi, http://rev-o-lution.org
E. by Wild Goose Worship Group, from Stages on the Way: Worship Resources and Readings for Lent, Holy Week and Easter, p. 39
G. by Roddy Hamilton, posted on re-worship.blogspot.com/ (adapted)
H. posted on re-worship.blogspot.com
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 November 2016, adapted for general use.
From the blog
Prayer sheets