Lmst

#Lectionary

"With a foolishness wiser than human wisdom and a folly which overcomes the strength of evil, Christ stumbled to the cross and revealed God’s love for us". #Lectionary Prayers for Epiphany 4, Sunday 1 February 2026

Opening Prayers for the Fourth...

"With a foolishness wiser than human wisdom and a folly which overcomes the strength of evil, Christ stumbled to the cross and revealed God’s love for us".
#Lectionary Prayers for Epiphany 4, Sunday 1 February 2026

http://peterwnimmo.co.uk/2026/01/22/opening-prayers-for-the-fourth-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-a-february-1-2026/

Opening Prayers for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany Year A (January 25 2026)

Part of a series of opening prayers for upcoming Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome.

The following prayers are for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany. They are based on Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-11, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 and John 1:29-42

Call to Worship

One thing I asked of the Lord; this I seek:
to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.

Let us worship God.

Call to Prayer

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1 NRSV

Let us pray.

Prayer of Approach

Most loving and gracious God,
you are indeed our light, our salvation,
and our stronghold.
As your Son Jesus Christ
once called Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John,
to leave their fishing nets
and follow him,
so your Word and Spirit calls each of us by name
to follow Jesus today.

Today we renew our commitment
to be Christ’s disciples
as you renew your promise
to uphold and strengthen us
in our discipleship.

at a celebration of Holy Communion:

Here at your Table
you offer us the body and blood
of your own dear Son
to be light for our path
and strength for our soul;
once more you will promise us salvation.

or, at other times:

May this time of worship
to be light for our path
and strength for our soul.
Once more, may we hear your promise us salvation.

Prayer of Confession

Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned against God
and our neighbours
in thought, word and deed.
Our discipleship has been slack
and our faith has been weak.
O Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy upon us
and grant us your peace.

silence

Hear these words of St Paul:

For the message about the cross
is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved
it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1.18 GNB

Loving God, the cross of Christ shows us
that you do not judge us with human wisdom.
Rather, you promise to forgive and renew us
By your Spirit, enable us to turn from our sins
to hear again clearly Christ’s call
and to leave behind what would keep us back
from following Christ
and more fully being his disciples in our own time. Amen.

Featured image: Cover of ‘Jesus Calls His Disciples’, by Lucy Diamond, illustrated by Kenneth Inns. Children’s book published by Ladybird,1959.

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Opening Prayers for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany Year A (January 18 2026)

The following prayers are for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany. They are based on Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-11, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 and John 1:29-42

Call to Worship

We are gathered together as God’s church,
dedicated to God in Christ Jesus,
called to be his people.
Grace and peace to you
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

c.f. 1 Corinthians 1.2

Let us worship God.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Call to Prayer

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1

Let us pray.

Approach

Eternal God,
creator of all things,
in times past, your people have known
of your presence with them.
And when they have strayed from you
your Word was heard anew
in scripture, in story,
and in the sharp words of the prophets;
and the people learned once more
to put their trust in you.

And when the time was right
your Word became flesh in Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist recognised him
as the one who had come to take away
the sins of the world.

And now, by your grace, you call us
to be the successors of Andrew and Simon Peter
to be disciples in our own day
to live by your eternal Word
and to live in the power of the Spirit
which we received in our baptism.

Lord Jesus Christ, as you called the disciples,
open our ears to your calling,
open your eyes to your presence,
open our hearts to your love,
that we may hear you,
and hearing you may love you.
For to love you and serve you
is perfect freedom.

this paragraph based on David Adam, Traces of Glory (SPCK 1999, p28)

Confession

Merciful Father,
who knows us better than we know ourselves,
we confess that we have failed to hear you,
to share the gifts of our Spirit,
and have strayed from the loving way of Jesus.
We have caused distress and hurt
by the wrong we have done to other people
and we have grieved your heart.
Yet in Jesus Christ,
the Lamb of God,
you offer us forgiveness and renewal of life.

Jesus, Lamb of God,
who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
Grant us your peace.

silence

Grace and peace to you
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1.3

May the mercy of God be upon you;
the steadfast love of God surround you
and the faithfulness of God keep you safe forever.

from Psalm 40.11

Supplication

God of grace
who freely forgives those who turn to you in Christ.
make known to us anew
the grace and peace which we know through our faith in Christ.
May we whom you have called to be disciples of your Son
be kind to our neighbours
and be strong in our faith
so that we may be blameless
on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ
in whose name we pray. Amen.

Featured image: Lamb of God. Mosaic in the Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano (Rome, Italy), 527AD. from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=52396 [retrieved January 6, 2026]. Original source: Prof. Lee M. Jefferson, lee.jefferson@centre.edu.

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Opening Prayers for the Baptism of the Lord Year A

Part of a series of opening prayers for Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary. They take their inspiration from the Scripture readings in the Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome.

The following prayers are for based on the readings for the Baptism of the Lord, and this week is mostly based on the Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12.

Prayer of Approach, Confession and Supplication

Almighty, eternal and loving God,
this universe you have created
is wonderful proof of your concern
for we mortals.
In Jesus Christ, you have come among us,
his baptism sealing his solidarity
with the whole human race.

Yet confess we must,
that we have failed to acknowledge your love.
We have used the gifts of your creation
as though they belonged only to us,
as if we had an absolute claim to your creation.

We have been selfish,
failing to share your good gifts with others,
failing to remember that you are the source
of all our material and spiritual riches.

In our concern for the everyday,
we have failed to see your love for us in creation,
and we have obscured for others
the signs of the eternal.

But Lord, to whom shall we go?
Yours are the words of eternal life.

Silence

Your Word became flesh and lived among us.
You have taught us that it is the Spirit
which gives us life,
compared to which the mundane things
of this world which we normally worship
are as nothing.
You understand our faults, our failings,
our weaknesses,
and have made it possible to come to you
through Jesus Christ.

For your grace,
for your promise of forgiveness,
and for the power of your Spirit to renew our lives
we give you thanks, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Featured image: “John baptizes Jesus” from JESUS MAFA (1973). JESUS MAFA is a response to the New Testament readings from the Lectionary by a Christian community in Cameroon, Africa. Each of the readings was selected and adapted to dramatic interpretation by the community members. Photographs of their interpretations were made, and these were then transcribed to paintings. From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48290 [retrieved January 2, 2023]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).

#bible #Christ #faith #god #Jesus #JohnTheBaptist #Lectionary #Prayer

Opening Prayers for the Second Sunday after Christmas Day, Year A

The following prayers are for the Second Sunday after Christmas Day. They are based on Jeremiah 31:7-14, Psalm 147:12-20, Ephesians 1:3-14 and John 1:1-18.

Call to Worship

Optional: the congregation may say together the words in bold.

We gather to worship the God of heaven and earth
to hear God’s Word
and remember God’s power.

Let us all rejoice and sing
for it is God who has gathered us together!

or the response:

We rejoice and sing
for it is God who has gathered us together!

Let us worship God.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Let us pray.

Word of life
existing from the beginning
and through whom all things came to be
we gather to worship you.

Light of the World,
who shines in the darkness
and cannot be overcome
we gather to seek your light.

Unknown God
who made yourself known in Christ
we gather to experience anew your grace and truth.

God of light and love,
we bring our songs of praise
for we have known your merciful grace in Christ.
We bring our concerns in prayer
because we follow Christ, who is close the Father’s heart.
We bring our thanksgivings
because in Christ, the true light is coming into the word
and taught us that we are your beloved children.

All praise to you, Father, Son and Spirit!

Confession

Merciful God,
we confess that we often live
as if we did not know Christ.
We seek darkness
when we should follow the light.
You call us to be holy,
but we act foolishly.
Your truth has set us free
but we often seem trapped by lies.

You have promised
that all who receive Christ,
and believed in his name,
are become children of God.
Forgive us our faults and sins
and enlighten us again with your love and truth, we pray.

silence

Assurance of Pardon

In Christ we have redemption through his blood,
and the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace.
For grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.

Children of light- know that you are forgiven!

Supplication

Lord Jesus Christ,
in whom we hear the Word of truth and grace,
may we set our hope in you alone
and live to the praise of your glory,
so that by living in love
we may share your light in a dark world.
To you, and to the Father, and to the Holy Spirit
we eternal glory and praise! Amen.

Featured image: Josef Krautwald, In the Beginning was the Word, 1955. Metalwork, St. Dionysius Parish Church, Recke, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=59020 [retrieved December 28, 2025]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Dionysius_Hauptportal_Tuer_1.jpg.

#bible #christianity #Christmas #faith #god #Jesus #Lectionary #Prayer

No #Lectionary Prayers for Christmas, but if you are leading worship based on Matthew 2 today or tomorrow, you might find my prayers for Christmas 1 and Epiphany useful: peterwnimmo.co.uk/2025/12/18/o... peterwnimmo.co.uk/2025/12/18/o...

Opening Prayers for Epiphany o...

Opening Prayers for Epiphany of the Lord, Years A, B and C

The following prayers are for based on the readings for the Epiphany of the Lord Year A, where the Gospel is the story of the Wise Men. Where this is not a Sunday you may wish to transfer it to the previous Sunday or the next Sunday. Alternatively, you might wish to preach on the passage during the Christmas season. You could also use these prayers for the First Sunday after Christmas Day in Year A, when the Gospel passage is the second half of Matthew 2 (see here for other prayers for Christmas 1 Year A).

The prayers are based on Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12 and Matthew 2:1-12. The readings are the same for all three years.

Call to worship

Lift up your eyes, and look around!
God’s people are gathering.

cf Psalm 60.4

So let us worship God.

Prayer of Approach

Lord of light,
we praise you,
for you are the one who casts away the darkness
which covers our lives, and our world.
Yours is the light which illuminates that which is good
in all the nations of the world.
In this time of worship
we lift our eyes to your light.
We rejoice in your glory
and in the mystery of the salvation of the world
you have brought through Jesus Christ.

As the Wise Men came seeking the Christ Child
kindle within us a desire to seek him anew
and to make new discoveries
of his truth and his glory.
May the Star of Bethlehem
lead us to worship the Light of the World.

Confession

God of infinite grace,
in the gift you gave us at Bethlehem
you offer us the boundless riches of Christ.
Yet we are slow to offer all that we have.
The Wise Men left home to seek the truth;
but we are too often content to stay where we are comfortable.
King Herod claimed he wanted to worship the child;
and too often, we are taken in by plausible lies.

We ask for your forgiveness
for all the ways we fall short
in generosity,
in courage,
and in failing to seek and to heed your truth.
Give us time to amend our lives
and may your Spirit to enable us
to live more fully
in the light of your Word made flesh.

silence

Supplication

What shall we give you, O Lord
for all that you have given us in Jesus Christ?
The wealth of all nations would not be sufficient!
In the bleak midwinter,
the Wise Men brought their gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
So what may we bring you, poor as we are?
What else, but a heart to follow Jesus!
So grant us boldness and confidence
in our faith in the promises of Jesus.

Give us the courage to take another road
if that is where you are leading us on our journey of life.
And may we thrill and rejoice
as your light dawns on us anew every day.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ,
the Light of the World. Amen.

Dismissal and Blessing

Go in peace,
and may Christ be a bright flame before you,
a guiding star above you,
a kindly shepherd behind you,
and supporting strength beneath you;

based on a blessing attributed to St Columba of Iona

The blessing of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you all.

Featured image: Adoration of the Magi (1619). Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).
Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts de Belgique. from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56315 [retrieved December 13, 2022]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_Paul_Rubens_-_L%27adoration_des_Mages.jpg.

#bible #christianity #Epiphany #faith #Jesus #Lectionary #Magi #Prayer #WiseMen

Opening Prayers for the First Sunday after Christmas Day, Year A

The following prayers are for the First Sunday after Christmas Day. They are based on Isaiah 63:7-9, Psalm 148, Hebrews 2:10-18 and Matthew 2:13-23.

Call to Worship

Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise God in the heights!

Psalm 148.1 NRSV

Let us pray.

Prayer of Approach

O God, for whom and through whom all things exist,
today, in this congregation
with your faithful people everywhere,
and with all creation,
we join in praising you.

For you are praised by all you have made:
the angels in heaven
and the sun, moon and stars;
mountains and trees and all the forces of nature;
animals and birds and creepy crawlies-
all creation praises you!
Rulers and the lowliest of people,
young and old, men and women alike-
together, all your people praise you!

We praise you that,
in your gracious love for us
you did not send an angel or a messenger
to bring salvation.
Instead, you sent your very Son,
born in a manger to Mary and Joseph,
living a human life with all its joys and perils,
suffering and dying and being raised to life
so that we would all become the sisters and brothers of Jesus.

Confession

God of steadfast love,
we confess that we are not steadfast in faith.
We succumb to temptations to treat others unfairly.
Yet you are not deceived for you see into our hearts,
and know how we have failed you.
Hear us, as in silence, we confess our sins.

silence

God, in your mercy, forgive us
and help us live in the abundance of your steadfast love.

Supplication

God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are our saviour in distress.
Grant us to be confident
in the reality of our forgiveness
through Christ’s atonement for his people.
Help us, like Joseph,
to try to do your will
even when it is not entirely clear where you are leading us.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Featured image: Kelly Latimore, Refugees: La Sagrada Familia
From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57109 [retrieved November 22, 2022]. Original source: Kelly Latimore Icons, https://kellylatimoreicons.com/.

#bible #Christmas #faith #god #Jesus #Lectionary #Prayer

Opening Prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A (December 21 2025)

Part of a series of opening prayers for upcoming Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary. They take their inspiration from the Scripture readings in the Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome.

The following prayers are for based on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, but can be used on whatever Sunday your church celebrates the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph. They are based on Isaiah 7:10-16, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, Romans 1:1-7 and Matthew 1:18-25 .

There’s a note about the texts I’m using for these prayers for Advent here.

Call to Worship

To all God’s beloved, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1.7 (alt)

Prayers of Approach

Holy God,
Father, Mother, Eternal Lover,
we praise you for the magnificence of your creation,
the complexities of our evolving universe,
the beauty we find in the far-flung stars,
the wonder in the tiniest creatures here on earth,
and for the tender love, divine and human,
with which we are surrounded.

We praise you, O God, for Jesus:
his birth, teaching, healing, and selfless death.
In him, we are born anew:
refreshed, restored and raised to new life.

We praise you for the gift of your Spirit
which acts in such unexpected ways
to do your work in the world.

We praise you that you have not left us on our own.
For you have always given us signs
that you are working to restore and to save your people.
Your prophets promised a saviour,
and the angel promised Mary a child.

We praise you for Mary
willing to take a chance on your outrageous promise.
We praise you for Joseph
willing to change his mind for the sake of your plans.
We praise you that,
through those ordinary young people,
your will was done
and that in Mary’s child
you save us from our sins.

Prayer of Confession

Love, who came down at Christmas,
and who entered our lives
as the promised child of Mary and Joseph,
we confess we are not ready for your coming.

If we have heard the wondrous story
but have allowed the demands of living
to suppress our sense of wonder;
if we have thought that the joy that Christmas brings
is only for our children;
if we have sung the hymns and carols
with voices that lack lustre and conviction:
prise open our hearts, we pray,
so that we will come fresh to the stable
seeking the peace and reconciliation of the Gospel of Christ
for us and for all humankind.
now no longer merely a longing
May we who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
show his love in our lives
as our hearts receive his peace:
Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.

Featured image: Dream of St Joseph, c. 1625–1630, by Gerard Seghers Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (public domain: Wikipedia)

#advent #joseph #lectionary #mary #prayer

Happy New Year A to all who celebrate! #Lectionary

Opening Prayer for Proper 25 Year C (October 23, 2022)

The following prayers, for Proper 25 Year C, are based on Joel 2:23-32, Psalm 65, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 and Luke 18:9-14

Call to Prayer

Scripture promises that
‘everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved’.

Joel 2.32

Therefore, let us pray.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

God of all people
to you we bring our praise and thanksgiving.
For you are an awesome God.
You have created an amazing world
which supplies our every need.
Rain and shine create the harvest of the earth;
people everywhere rejoice in your goodness!
Creation itself rejoices in your bounty.
You have done marvellous things for your people
and so we come to you in awe and worship.
Praise to you, O God!

Even when we transgress from your way
you know we can call to you to save us from ourselves.
In all our prayers
we ought to put aside false pride
and seek your mercy, for we are but sinners.
So we pray to you, merciful Creator:
do now allow us to be overwhelmed by our sins.
Hear our cries, accept our repentance,
and forgive us once more,
for the sake of Christ, our Saviour.

silence

Assurance of Pardon

Jesus Christ has promised
that all who sincerely turn to God
will know his Father’s mercy.
So accept, with gratitude, the unfathomable grace of God
and know yourself forgiven.

Supplication

Pour out your Spirit anew, O God,
on all your people.
Grant us dreams and visions of a better world.
Hold us close when we feel threatened
and help us lead lives of humility and honesty
so that, at our end
it may be said of us
that we fought the good fight,
finished the race,
and kept the faith.
All this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ
and in the power of his Spirit. Amen.

Featured image: Anonymous. Fight the Good Fight, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55763 [retrieved September 28, 2022]. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31160527@N02/4307396153.

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Opening Prayers for the Second Sunday of Advent Year A (December 7 2025)

The following prayers are for the Second Sunday of Advent. They are based on Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19, Romans 15:4-13 and Matthew 3:1-12.

There’s a note about the texts I’m using for these prayers for Advent here.

There are Calls to Worship with Advent Candles here.

Call to Worship

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
He alone does wonderful things.
Praise his glorious name forever.

Psalm 72.18,19 GNB

Prepare in the wilderness a road for our Lord!
Clear the way in the desert for our God!

Isaiah 40.3-4

Let us worship God.

Prayers of Approach

Praise to you, steadfast God,
who dwells in glory.
All righteousness and power is yours:
blessed be your name forever.

Since you made all things,
you can create and destroy, according to your will.
You judge the wicked and powerful
and save and poor and meek;
your judgements are inscrutable
for you see what we cannot see
and understand what is beyond our comprehension.

Blessed be you, the God of Israel
judge and lover of all you have made!

Prophets of old dreamed of a time
when the wolf would live with the lamb,
and all that is evil and painful
would be gathered up into your love and grace.
And at the right moment,
you sent John, the desert-dweller
to proclaim that your reign was breaking into human history.
Today, John calls us anew,
to prepare the way of the Lord
and to get ready for what you will do in Christ.

In this time of worship
we seek, with one voice
to praise and worship
you who are the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer of Confession

Speak your eternal, living Word to us today, Lord.
Speak to us as you spoke
through John the Baptist:
speak a Word which will recall us to ourselves
which will make us want to turn our lives around
to repent of all those things
which hold us back from you.
Speak your Good News,
to let us know that our God is here-
alive, active, creating life
and destroying all that brings death.
Give us the courage to truly repent
to change our ways
and to live our lives in harmony with one another.
Baptise us anew
with fire and the Holy Spirit
that we might have joy and hope in believing Christ
who came to set us free from our sins
and take away our guilt.

silence

Supplication

O God and judge of all,
as we wait, expectantly, for the coming of Jesus,
and for you to do great things in the world,
so also you expect great things of us.
Help us to turn to you anew
so that our lives, our talents,
all that we have and all that we are
might serve the purposes
of your coming Kingdom. Amen.

Featured image: St John the Baptist in the Desert (Titian) c. 1542. Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice (public domain: Wikipedia)

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St John the Baptist in the Desert (Titian) c. 1542. Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice (public domain: Wikipedia)

Calls to Worship for use with Advent Candles (Year A)

Here is some ‘bonus material’ for Advent. These calls to worship can be used by those asked to light Advent candles, such as children, other family members or individuals. They are based on the Lectionary, except that the readings from Advent 4 are used on Advent 3, and Advent 4 is a nativity or similar pre-Christmas service. For more information, see this post on Advent and Christmas. The first prayer is adapted from a Christian Aid resource from 2004.

Advent 1

Today we hear the words of the prophet Isaiah:
Nations and peoples,
come to the mountain of the Lord.
Let us go up to the house of our God.
Let him teach us his ways.
And we will walk in his paths.
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
They shall not learn war any more.
All you who long for peace and justice:
Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Let us worship God.

Advent 2

Today, John the Baptist says to us:
‘Turn away from your sins’.
He calls us to make a road for the Lord,
a straight path into our hearts.
So let us turn to God
and know God’s forgiveness through Christ.

Let us worship God.

Advent 3 using readings from the Lectionary

John the baptizer cries in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord!’
As John baptised the people as a sign of their repentance
so may our baptism call us daily to repentance
for the kingdom of heaven has come near us
in the Christ who baptize us with the Spirit and with fire.

Let us worship God.

Advent 3 (Mary) using readings from Advent 4

Today, we think of Mary,
of her faithfulness to God
and of the child born of the Holy Spirit
who came to save us all.
May we, like Mary, say ‘Yes’ to God
and learn from her
what it is to be faithful followers of Jesus.

Let us worship God.

Advent 4 for a nativity play

Today we hear the wonderful story
of the child born in Bethlehem.
And so we sing with the angels
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth
to those with whom he is pleased!’

Let us worship God.

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Featured image from Pexels Free Photos

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Opening Prayers for the First Sunday of Advent Year A (November 30 2025)

The following prayers are for the First Sunday of Advent. The are based on Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, with echoes of other Advent texts.

Please see this note about my approach to Advent and Christmas.

Call to Worship

Call to Worship

Let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.

Isaiah 2.3

Let us worship God.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

God of time and space
just when we think you are distant,
uninvolved, remote
you come to us suddenly,
when we least expect you.

When the people of Noah’s time
were partying and drinking
you brought judgement when they least expected it.
When Abraham thought he was too old
and his life was almost over
you called him to leave his home
to become the founder of a new nation.
When the people of Israel were in slavery in Egypt
you spoke to Moses from a burning bush.
And when your people were defeated
and in exile in Babylon,
your prophets foretold the rise
of a new Jerusalem.
In the midst of destruction and violence,
they dreamed of a time
when the nations would beat their swords into ploughshares
and would learn war no more.

And now it is far on in the night:
the day is near, our deliverance is at hand.
In this expectant, Advent time,
wake us from our sleep;
If we have lived in darkness,
bring us into the light;
help us to behave with the decency of the day
and avoid the dark deeds of night.

silence

O come, O come, Emmanuel:
forgive us our weariness;
make us awake and alert to all you are doing
in our lives, in your Church, and in the world. Amen.

Featured image: the moon over Loch Fyne (own photograph)

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Opening Prayers for Christ the King Year C (November 23, 2025)

The following prayers are for the Reign of Christ (Proper 29). They are based on Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Luke 1:68-79, Colossians 1:11-20 and Luke 23:33-43

Call to Worship

Optional: Congregation say the words in bold

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for you have looked favourably upon your people.
You have raised up a mighty saviour for us
in the house of your servant David.
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1.68-69, 78-79

Let us worship God.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

God of Gods, and ruler of all things,
you alone deserve our worship.
For you existed before all governments and rulers.
Your justice and righteousness transcend all human laws.
You live in glorious light, which we can hardly imagine.
Praise to you, God above all!

In Jesus Christ, you entered human history,
born, living and dying for us and with us.
For Christ was the image of the invisible God
walking among us,
teaching love and healing the sick,
offering grace and forgiveness to all.
Yet he was not recognized for who he was,
losing his life on a Roman cross,
dying condemned by the authority of an empire
and mocked thieves, soldiers, and passers-by.

And yet the Crucified One has become
the one in whom we see most clearly
the fullness of your glory and love.
For the weakness of the cross
is more powerful than all the hatred and evil in the world.
For all that you have done for us in Christ
we praise you and thank you.

God of reconciliation,
forgive us when we continue to be blind
to your presence in Christ.
Help us turn to you Christ anew
and follow him alone
as our King and Saviour.

silence

May the tender mercy of God
give us light for our paths
and guide us in the ways of peace.

Supplication

With joy we give thanks to you, Father,
for you have made us fit
to have a share of what you have reserved
for your people in the kingdom of light.
You have rescued us from the power of darkness
and brought us safe into the kingdom
of your dear Son,
by whom we are set free and our sins forgiven.
May your Spirit make us strong
with all the strength which comes from your glorious power,
so that we may be able to endure
everything with patience.
We pray in name of Christ, our only King. Amen.

from Colossians 1.11-14 (GNB)

Featured image: Cranach, Lucas, 1472-1553. Christ on the Cross Between the Two Thieves, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57236 [retrieved October 20, 2022]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cranach_il_vecchio,_calvario,_1515-20.JPG.

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Cranach, Lucas, 1472-1553. Christ on the Cross Between the Two Thieves

Opening Prayers for Proper 26 Year C (November 2, 2025)

The following prayers, for Proper 26 Year C, are based on Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, Psalm 119:137-144, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12 and Luke 19:1-10.

Click here for prayers for All Saints Year C.

Call to Worship

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1.2

Let us worship God.

Prayer of Approach

Optional: the congregation may join in the response:

Together we worship you:
Praise to you forever!

Let us pray.

Righteous and ever-loving God,
we gather today worship you.
For in the violence and upheaval of our times
your love is constant.
When we are beset with troubles and anguish
your grace is enough.
Whenever we feel small and despised
we turn to you for strength and hope
for you are the eternal Creator of all that is
dwelling in light and power.

Together we worship you:
Praise to you forever!

In Jesus Christ,
you call even those who feel the most unworthy.
For Christ has come to seek out and save the lost,
ignoring the disdain of hypocrites
to extend your friendship to all people
In his life, death and resurrection
he shows us the depth of your love for us

Together we worship you:

Praise to you forever!

By your Spirit, you are at work in the world
inspiring us to care for our planet
and for our neighbours in need.
Your Spirit help us to understand
the truth of your Word
and know fully the grace
or your presence with us.

Together we worship you:
Praise to you forever!

Prayer of Confession

optional: said together by the congregation

Creator, redeemer and inspirer,
like Zacchaeus, we are hardly worthy of your grace
for we did nothing to deserve it.
And we even when we do try to follow Christ
our response is too often hesitant and fearful.
Yet in Christ, you sought us out in love.
Help us know again your welcoming grace
and the joyful presence of Christ in our homes.

silence

Assurance of Pardon

Brothers and sisters,
respond in joy to Christ who loves to be with sinners.
Climb out of your trees and welcome Christ into your life
so that the name of Jesus might be glorified among us!
Know his forgiveness, change your ways, and follow him more closely!

Supplication

God of our ancestors
and Lord of the present moment
take away our fear for the future.
Instead of looking back
may we look out to discern
what you are still to do.
In the confusions of this world,
strengthen our hope in you.
Grant us a vision of what kind of people
you want us to become.
So may we live by faith and hope in you,
inspired by your Spirit
and knowing the presence of Christ among us. Amen.

Featured image: Watchtower at Point Alpha, the American military base at the most easterly point of the internal German border during the Cold War, Rasdorf, Hessen (own photograph)

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Opening Prayers for Sunday after All Saints Year C (November 2, 2025)

The following prayers are for the Sunday following All Saints Day. They are based on the readings for that day: Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18, Psalm 149, Ephesians 1:11-23 and Luke 6:20-31. They may be used on Saturday November 1, or on the first Sunday of November (November 2 2025, in place of the readings for Proper 26)

Call to Prayer

Saint Paul wrote to the Ephesians,
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love toward all the saints,
and for this I do not cease to give thanks for you
as I remember you in my prayers.

Ephesians 1:15,16

Let us pray.

Prayer of Approach

Most High God,
we, your faithful people, have assembled in this place
to praise you
and to exult in your glory and love.

You are the creator of heaven and earth
reigning over all earthly powers and rulers,
infinitely powerful and holy.
Yet you have given your Kingdom to the poor and humble.
In Jesus, the son of Mary, and of Joseph the carpenter,
you have come from glory
to promise your faithful ones an eternal inheritance,
which far surpasses all earthly joys.

Inspire our worship today
with the knowledge that in praising you
we join our voices with all the saints
of previous generations.
With the saints of past ages
and with all your faithful people
from every corner of the world today
we cry out in worship: ‘Praise the Lord!’

Prayer of Confession

Most merciful God
you call us to generosity to those in need,
and love for our neighbour.
Yet our faith seems unworthy of your goodness to us.
Our commitment to you
often seems weaker than that of the famous saints of the past.
Yet they, too, knew temptation
but turned to you in repentance.
May we, like them,
turn to you to seek your blessing anew.
Forgive us our sins, we pray.

silence

Assurance of Pardon

We thank you, God of all grace
that we have heard your word of truth
and been promised your Holy Spirit.
Forgive us all our sins and failings
and renew within us again
the gospel of salvation.

Supplication

Bless us, loving God
and grant us joy in following Christ
Help us to live praising your glory
in worship and in service.
Give us a spirit of wisdom
to know how to do to others
as we would have them do to us.
In serving the poor and hungry,
we may come know Christ more fully.
For you raised him from the dead
and granted him authority and dominion
as a guarantee of the promise of salvation
and a reward in heaven for all your saints.
To you be all praise
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Featured image: Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts (1655): Rembrandt van Rijn, 1606-1669 Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

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Opening Prayer for Proper 24 Year C (October 19, 2025)

The following prayers, for Proper 24 Year C, are based on Jeremiah 31:27-34, Psalm 119:97-104, 2 Timothy 3.14-45 and Luke 18:1-8.

Call to Prayer

Jesus taught his disciples about their need to pray always,
and not to lose heart.
Therefore, let us pray.

Prayer of Approach

Inspiration of all that is good,
we come to you today
from city and town, village and countryside
because your love and goodness
is constant.

We are so aware of certainties coming crashing down
of the destruction of war
of the oppression of the poor
of the damage being done to the earth
and of the belittling of love and goodness.
We are shaken by seeing that so many people
are living by myths and pseudo-religious lies.

But coming to this place
to worship you
we are reminded that even in all the destruction and breaking down
your grace and love is constant.
For you watch over the world
and all its follies
with the love of a caring parent.
And in Christ
you have made us people of your new covenant of grace and love.

The powers of evil led to the cross,
yet the power of your love raised Christ from the dead.
And so we are bold enough to worship
you who are the source of that is good and loving and generous.
God of all the world
we praise you!

Prayer of Confession

God of constant love
we find it all too easy to wander into wrong paths.
Through fear of consequences
we fail to confess our faith in Christ.
Lacking persistence
we are too easily led astray
by the lies that surround us.
Lacking an enthusiastic love for Christ
we fail to love our neighbours.
Merciful God, forgive our failings, we pray
as we recall our sins before you now.

silence

Assurance of Pardon

Grant to us anew, gracious God,
the forgiveness we knew when we first chose to follow Christ:
the certainty that he judges us
not as we are, but what we can be
when we seek to we mould our lives
in his image.

Supplication

Constantly loving God,
may we know the work of your Spirit in our lives.
May the inspiration of your Spirit
help keep our feet on path of truth
in a world of lies and half-truths
as we try to live by your Word.
Equip us, by your Spirit, for good works
so that, in a loveless world, our love for Christ
is shown in love for our neighbours.
Inspire us by your Spirit
to have faith in the power of prayer
knowing that, even when it is not apparent to us,
you will answer our prayers.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Saviour. Amen.

Featured image: demolition and renewal of housing stock in my former parish of Cambuslang, c.2021. Author’s own photograph

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"For the sake of your risen Son, grant, O God, that we might live as thankful people". #Lectionary Prayers for Sunday October 12 2025 (Proper 23)

Opening Prayers for Proper 23 ...

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