(for Leader and People, or Congregation divided in 2 parts.)
1. Spirit of God, your love is all about us.
2. Wherever we turn, we are overwhelmed by your bounty.
1. How can we thank you enough for all your gifts to us?
2. Your gracious goodness toward us never ends.
1. We have not earned it.
2. We cannot repay it.
1. It flows over us and around us.
2. It never leaves us, though sometimes we fail to recognise its presence.
1. We live surrounded by your love.
2. Just as a fish lives in the sea.
1. We lose awareness that you give us life.
2. We so easily take your love as our right.
1. We forget that relationship with you that keeps our Christian life throbbing.
2. As if, unlike fish, we had forgotten how to swim!
1. Loving God, teach us your ways again.
2. Draw us back into rhythm with your will.
1. We regret our wandering attention to you.
2. We know we are living in disharmony with you and with your plan for our world.
1. Forgive us and restore us again, we pray.
2. Renew us, restore and reconcile us, we ask....
1. You call forth from us a total response of every part of our life.
2. You draw out from us our latent talents, our every gift.
1. You help us offer our contributions in confidence, in company with other people.
2. We are excited to discover how our various abilities complement and complete a whole unity.
All: Together we catch a vision of the harmony of every part of creation, knit together according to your will. Use us, Lord. Help us to say "yes" to you. What would you have us do? We pray in the name of Jesus.
(Edith Little)
A Prayer based on God's calling of people, and their often hesitant reactions.
Who?
I heard the Lord say, 'Whom shall I send?'
Not me!
I'm too young.
I'm too old.
I'm over-committed already.
I wouldn't know where to start.
I am not worthy.
I heard the Lord say, 'Who will be our messenger?'
Not me!
I'm too young.
I'm too old.
I'm over-committed already.
I wouldn't know where to start.
I am not worthy.
I heard the Lord say, 'Who will tell the good news?'
Not me!
I'm too young.
I'm too old.
I'm over-committed already.
I wouldn't know where to start.
I am not worthy.
I heard the Lord say, 'Follow me!' Not me!
Not me!
I'm too young.
I'm too old.
I'm over-committed already.
I wouldn't know where to start.
I am not worthy.