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The Timeless Psalmsby Joan Stott |
A Call to Worship
Epiphany of the Lord, Year C, Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14
L: The Lord’s name is always to be trusted.P: Let us praise our trustworthy God.
L: We have always trusted in God to be
an influence for good amongst our leaders.
P: O God, on whom we always rely,
bless and give direction all national leaders.
L: May all our leaders be compassionate
and all people be blessed through their rule,
P: so that God’s name may be praised.
Let us worship the God who rules all things. Amen.
If used in shared worship, please provide an acknowledgement as follows:
© 2010 Joan Stott – "The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year C, used with permission.
Prayers of Petition
Epiphany of the Lord, Year C, Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14
O Lord our Trustworthy God, we bring to you our prayersfor the leaders of all nations. We pray that they will realise
that their natural talents and abilities were given to them
as gifts from God. We pray that they will accept and wisely
use these gifts in leadership for the benefit of all their people.
We pray that all leaders of the nations will show mercy,
justice and compassion, so that they may support the weak
and the afflicted; so that they may rescue the destitute
from their needy situations; and release the oppressed
from all that restricts them from living a fulfilling life.
We pray that the nations’ leaders will earn respect from
other leaders and nations, as well as from their own people,
male and female, child and adult. Under their leadership,
may God’s upright reign flourish in the hearts and minds
of people, and that peace will be a blessing for all people.
O Lord our dependable God, may these leaders use
the natural resources of their nation for the benefit
of all their people, and may prosperity be understood
as a blessing from God, and the shared resources from
other nations be used for the benefit of everyone.
O Lord, our Trustworthy God, we look to you
for your blessing on all honourable leaders. Amen.
If used in shared worship, please provide an acknowledgement as follows:
© 2010 Joan Stott – "The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year C, used with permission.
A Personal Meditation
Epiphany of the Lord, Year C, Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14
Today, I join in praying with the Psalmist of bygone days—to pray for the leaders of the nations of this world, that they
will govern wisely, and bring prosperity and security to their
people. I also join with the Psalmist to pray for justice; for the
defeat of oppression and greed; and for renewed support
and encouragement for poor and destitute people of these nation.
| Creative pause: | Learning from the wisdom of the past. |
Like that ancient Psalmist, I pray that God’s Kingly reign will be
honoured, and that all leaders within communities, governments
and churches, will worship and follow the true King of all things.
I pray too that this commitment to following God’s path will be an
example to their people by showing them a model of Godly living
of compassion for people who are weak, destitute, oppressed or
overlooked; and with special care and support for all their children.
| Creative pause: | Honouring God’s reign over all people. |
I pray too that the leaders of nations will wisely use the natural
resources of their lands and their industries; and also their people
resources - that priceless gift of people with individual skills so
that they may serve each other, their nation, and their world.
| Creative pause: | Sharing God’s gifts of resources. |