Lord, direct our thoughts, and teach us to pray. Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

‘Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.’ (Psalm 116:5-7)

Hymn: Take my life, and let it be...

Isaiah 50: 4-9a; James 3: 1-12

‘God is love, and those who live in love live in God and God lives in them.’ 1 John 4:16

Let us pray: Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the day: Lord of creation, whose glory is around and within us: open our eyes to your wonders, that we may serve you with reverence and know your peace at our lives’ end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Mark 8: 27-38

Please see the message from the minister.

Let us join in prayer and ask for God’s empowering love to impact:

the Church, that all may know and serve the Lord, to give our all in his good service;

the world, that peace will reign and that all people will care and share;

our neighbours, families and friends, that relationships will thrive;

people who are sick or suffering, for the healing power of the Holy Spirit to be known; 

those who have been bereaved, that all who mourn will be comforted.

Let us pray for the coming of God’s kingdom in the prayer that Jesus taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn: I, the Lord of sea and sky...

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all for evermore. Amen.

Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.