Do not be afraid

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:
Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name;
you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour...
You are precious and honoured in my sight, and I love you.

(Isaiah 43)

"Hope" is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—

And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard—
And sore must be the storm—
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm—

I've heard it in the chillest land—
And on the strangest Sea—
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb—of Me.

(Emily Dickinson)

Prayers of thanksgiving

(to a God of diversity)

For your wide and inclusive love,
And for your personal and intimate love,
We give you thanks.

For your revealing of yourself in ancient words,
And for the little glimpses of you all around us,
We give you thanks.

For the small miracles in the everyday,
And for the gift of Jesus: redeeming the world.
We give you thanks.

For the many blessings we enjoy here on earth,
And for the eternal banquet to which you invite us:
We give you thanks.

(Jen Ryder)

Prayers of Confession

(to a God of diversity)

For times when we have limited your love to people and places with which we are comfortable:
Forgive us Lord

For times when we have ignored your call to love our neighbour – whoever they are:
Forgive us Lord

For times when we have stopped at the stereotype and failed to look deeper and see your face:
Forgive us Lord

For times when we have failed to value the contribution each person can bring to our communities:
Forgive us Lord

(Jen Ryder)

Prayers of Adoration

(to a God of diversity)

God of the East and the West,
God of all peoples, all nations, all creatures:
We give you praise tonight

God in the church and on the street-corner,
God in the classroom, in the synagogue, on the hospital ward:
We give you praise tonight

God in story and in song,
God in wind and fire, ritual and fresh expression:
We give you praise tonight

God of the organ and of the bells,
God of the sitah and the tabla, of the lute and the harp:
We give you praise tonight

God in fine wine and in broken bread,
God in meat-pies, in vindaloo and in jerk chicken:
We give you praise tonight

God beside us and within us,
God of the ordinary and of the remarkable,
God of clarity and of mystery,

God in our joys and in our sorrows,
God in our understanding and in our doubts,
God of diversity and abundant life:

Be with us as we meet in your name tonight.

(Jen Ryder)