Four Prayers from our Sunday Service this Week

Opening Morning Prayer – Itunes track ‘Firmament’ by Nitin Sawhney
Living God, present with us.
We bring ourselves to you this morning to honour you – together with all our brothers and sisters around the world.
Fill us with your life and love.
I invite you to spend a moment, relaxing in the Spirits presence.. Consciously offering your whole self to God.
Let your prayer be the loosening of tension in your body. If it helps imagine a slow flow of water, melting your muscles from the top of your head to the tip of your toes.
We bring ourselves before you Lord, ready to worship, serve and receive you.
World in Worship Time Prayer

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”Psalm 90: 1, 2
For your amazing protection over the people in the face of Cyclone Yasi..
All: We turn back in wonder and give praise to your name.
We thank you that by the gift of water you nourish and sustain all living things. Yet now, by this same water, many in our land and overseas are experiencing disaster by repeated flooding.
All: Have mercy, we pray, on all who face devastation, loss and continuing danger.
Continue to give strength to all emergency service workers, wisdom to those who manage the relief operations – like Julian from our own community with red-cross in Queensland, and wise leadership to all in positions of government.
All: Let your blessing rest on the task of rebuilding damaged communities and livelihoods.
And amidst the many troubles of this groaning world, the injustice and instability in Egypt, the outbreak of foot and mouth in South Korea, the bombings in Pakistan, the snow storms in America, the earthquakes in China – which threaten to hide the light of your love..
All: Your kingdom come. “God reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.” Job 12:22
“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10
Preserve your people from all despair and sin, and turn our hearts to always trust in your redeeming grace.
All: Keep us safe and secure in Jesus Christ your Son, who entered the depths of darkness and death for us, yet lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen. (Adapted from a Prayer by Pastor Linards Jansons, January 2011)
Lanterns of Thanksgiving – Itunes track ‘You can close your eyes’ by Brooke Fraser and ‘See you in the Light’ by Michael Franti.

A few days ago, on Feb 3 our Chinese brothers and sisters celebrated the New Year.
The Chinese people celebrate new year with a festival of lanterns. They walk through the streets with lanterns that they have made themselves. We are going to celebrate our community’s new year, new season and 8^th birthday with our own display of prayer lanterns this morning.
So I invite you to make your own lanterns and decorate them with prayers of blessing for this new season, you may like to incorporate words or pictures of thanks and birthday reflections. Please use the materials (pre-cut coloured paper, pens, feathers, stickytape, paper shapes, stickers, pegs) on the tables and enjoy this special time of reflection and prayer.
We later hung them up together
Closing Blessing
May God,
who comes to us
in the things of this world,
bless your eyes
and be in your seeing.
May Christ,
who looks upon you
with deepest love,
bless your eyes
and widen your gaze.
May the Spirit,
who perceives what is
and what may yet be,
bless your eyes
and sharpen your vision.
May the Sacred Three
bless your eyes
and cause you to see.
[The blessing is from In the Sanctuary of Women © Jan L. Richardson.]