Theme: ‘Beg, encourage, urge’
Preparation
Opening
Opening Hymn:
Opening Prayer
We know that in coming towards you,
you came towards us first.
You called us by name,
bringing us deeper into you, into community, into love.
We thank you for the gift of this,
and hold our hands humbly,
offering you what we have,
knowing that you receive what we give –
even when it is very little.
Amen.
A Prayer of Confession
God of justice,
Justice is your name.
We who call ourselves yours
have often left justice at the door –
preferring words to action.
O God, we have done wrong.
May we pick up justice,
and hold it in our hands as we turn back to you.
Support us, O God, in our justice,
and in our turning towards justice.
Amen.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
We lift up our hands.
We lift up our voices.
We lift up our hearts.
We lift up our lives.
Search us, O God, and bring us deeper
into the justice of your life-giving Word.
Call us, O God, into knowing more of life –
your Word is life, so may we find life with each other.
We rejoice in your never-failing invitation
to celebrate and engage with your welcome.
Amen
Readings
The Bible Reading:
1 Thessalonians 2.9-13
Paul and his companions had supported themselves in Thessalonica, working blamelessly alongside those with whom they shared the good news. Their deeds were consistent with their words. Now the Thessalonians, like Paul, are leading lives worthy of God, whose Word is at work in them.
Reflection:
- What or Who encourages, urges, persuades you to be more Christ-like ?
- How might you encourage others in their faith journey ?
Audio reflection:
Prayer
Prayers of Intercession:
Today, we pray for all who feel isolated.
In their uniqueness, they may also feel alone.
This is most of us, some of the time,
but it is some of us most of the time.
God of encounter, may we all turn with love and interest
towards those who have been isolated.
God of encounter:
hear our prayer. Amen.
Collect for All Saints:
God of holiness your glory is proclaimed in every age: as we rejoice in the faith of your saints inspire us to follow their example with boldness and joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Collect for All Souls:
Everlasting God, our maker and redeemer, grant us, with all the faithful departed, the sure benefits of your Son’s saving passion and glorious resurrection, that, in the last day, when you gather up all things in Christ, we may with them enjoy the fullness of your promises; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Visual Intercessions – prayers for around the world
You may wish to listen to the anthem whilst praying through these images.
Text: Let us light a candle
The ‘Our Father’
We draw all our prayers together in the words of –
Our Father who art in heaven…
…for ever and ever. Amen.
Affirmation of Faith:
Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?
We believe and trust in him.
This is the faith of the Church.
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
A sending out prayer
God of power and light,
you have called us into light and friendship.
Send us, now, into more light,
with more of the power of friendship.
This love is the love at the heart of all things –
that you call us friends.
Empower us in this friendship, this power, this glory.
Amen
Blessing:
Closing Hymn:
Organ Voluntary: