Simple Sunday Service: Prayers and Reading

Today we begin a series called ‘Journey Through the Desert’, exploring some of the significant moments of the Israelites time in the wilderness as we bring our worship and invite God to shape us and form us.

 The following prayers and Bible passage can be read as part of the Simple Service which can be viewed here, or can be used independently for your own personal time of prayer and reflection. God is with you. 

Gathering Prayer

God of our days and years,

we set this time apart for you.

Form us in the likeness of Christ

so that our lives may glorify you.

Amen.

Prayer of Confession

God our Father,

we come to you in sorrow for our sins.

For turning away from you,

and ignoring your will for our lives;

Father, forgive us:

save us and help us.

For behaving just as we wish,

without thinking of you;

Father, forgive us:

save us and help us.

For failing you by what we do,

and think and say;

Father, forgive us:

save us and help us.

For letting ourselves be drawn away from you

by temptations in the world about us;

Father, forgive us:

save us and help us.

For living as if we were ashamed

to belong to your Son;

Father, forgive us:

save us and help us.

The almighty and merciful Lord

grant us pardon and forgiveness of all our sins,

time for amendment of life,

and the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Thanksgiving & Praise

Look back over your journey of life (you might want to take a look at some photos or draw a doodle of your life as road). Can you remember times and moments in life when God has provided for your needs in some way? Or have you seen him meet the needs of other people in some way? What was it he provided?

Use these thoughts to inspire a time of thanks and praise to God as you listen or read ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’

Song: Psalm 23- The Lord’s My Shepherd

The Lord's my Shepherd I'll not want

He makes me lie in pastures green

He leads me by the still still waters

His goodness restores my soul

And I will trust in You alone

And I will trust in You alone

For Your endless mercy follows me

Your goodness will lead me home

He guides my ways in righteousness

And He anoints my head with oil

And my cup it overflows with joy

I feast on His pure delights

And though I walk the darkest path

I will not fear the evil one

For You are with me

And Your rod and staff

Are the comfort I need to know

Bible Reading: Exodus 17:1-7

‘The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, travelling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. ² So they quarrelled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’

Moses replied, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?’

³ But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, ‘Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?’

⁴ >span class="small-caps">Lord, ‘What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.’

⁵ >span class="small-caps">Lord answered Moses, ‘Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. ⁶ I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.’ So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. ⁷ And he called the place Massah^[a] and Meribah^[b] because the Israelites quarrelled and because they tested the Lord saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’

Reflection:

• In what ways are you lacking the resources you need at the moment? Bring these needs to God who is our Creator and Provider.
• In what ways are habits or perspectives from your past unhelpfully shaping your sense of identity or security? Bring these things to God in prayer, and ask for him to keep working to transform you.

Intercessions

Pray for those who are in need of God’s provision today?

• Within your friends and family
• Locally who need to use food banks
• Places globally where water is scarce or polluted.

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

All   Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

Amen.

Sending Out

May God

who clothes the lilies and feeds the birds of the sky,

who leads the lambs to pasture and the deer to water,

who multiplied loaves and fishes and changed water into wine,

lead us, feed us, multiply us,

and change us to reflect the glory of our Creator

now and through all eternity;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

All   Amen.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. New Patterns for Worship, material from which is included here, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2002 and published by Church House Publishing.

Psalm 23: CCLI Song # 1585970 Stuart Townend © 1996 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Integrity Music) For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use.  All rights reserved. www.ccli.com. CCLI Licence No. 3204