What does anger achieve? Why did Jesus get so angry? What were the moneychangers doing wrong? How difficult is change? What is the cost of being a changemaker? How did the moneychangers turn the tables on Jesus? | Prayer Scattered, battered, bleeding is your world, crucified God.
Weeping, grieving, hungry are your children, risen God.
Blind, hard, proud are the nations, mighty God.
Helpless, confused, weak is your Church, forgiving God.
Take from us the guilt of our failures, gracious God,
but do not take away the pain until we are stirred
to do all in our power and yours
so that peace and hope and love are not distant dreams,
but present experience for all your children.
We confess to you forgiving God,
that although we long for justice for ourselves,
we are slow to seek justice for others.
We confess to you that although we pray for peace for our world,
we find it hard to keep peace ourselves,
with our family, our friends, within our church.
Break down the barriers that divide us one from another,
which we build between us and you. May cynical minds discover hope
and idle hands be moved to action
for you still create new heavens
and a new earth before our eyes,
through the power of your son, Jesus Christ.
Amen. www.churchofscotland.org.uk |
Thanksgiving Let us lift up our hearts.
........We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
........It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, O God,
for the Word of your cross, though appearing foolish,
is the power and wisdom which save us.
You created the universe;
the skies tell of your glory
and the earth bears witness to your steadfast love.
You brought your people from slavery to freedom
and gave your holy commandments through Moses;
words that guide the simple and sharpen vision,
reviving the soul and delighting the heart.
When the world, in its sophistication and pride,
made an idol of money
and a marketplace of your temple,
using your name only to boost profits,
you sent your Son, Jesus Christ,
filled with zeal for your honour.
He was torn down by the fury of evil and corruption,
but rose again in three days,
forever establishing the foolishness and weakness of God
as the pathway of life and salvation.
Therefore with .....
©2003 Nathan Nettleton www.laughingbird.net
| Hymns: 9.30 St Peter's 386 Be thou my vision 252 As water to the thirsty 581 Take my life 547 Oft in danger, oft in woe 10.45 St Andrew/'s 3 A man there lived in Galilee 15 All my hope on God is founded 174 God of grace and God of glory 560 Will you come and follow 6.30 St Andrew's 56 Be thou my vision 39 As the deer pants for the water 318 Lord thy word abideth 560 Will you come and follow Some prayer suggestions · Give thanks for the beauty of our world and the signs of life in the unlikeliest places. · For the holy places of the world and those who are their guardians and those who are pilgrims. · For those who struggle to manage anger |