Adoration
& Confession

Sometimes looking round we are shocked into despair at what we see in the world - but not always! There are times when the wonder of God's creation makes our hearts sing - the first prayer is just such a response. The second recognises that we are frail, we do make mistakes and acknowledging that, bringing it to God in prayer and seeking forgiveness is at the very heart of Christian renewal.

Adoration

Lord, how wonderful you are
How rich the variety of this, your world.
The arching blue of the sky,
The deep green of summer growth.
The spectrum of colour in each flower's enticement.
The billowing clouds and thirst-quenching rain.
Cooling breeze and stirring gusts
Each a tiny speck of wonder In the vast eternity of your creation.
How wonderful it is to give thanks and praise
For the beauty of it all.

Lord, we love you, we are yours.
Help us through your grace, you loving presence,
To know you better
To follow you more closely
To love you unreservedly
Lord, Hear our prayer.

Amen.

Confession

In the face of such wondrous gifts
We are saddened and ashamed
To admit our less than wholesome response.
We may fool ourselves that we love you
Act out the rituals of piety
Yet damage the world and its people
In the thoughtlessness and selfishness
Of our touch, our goals and our private desires.
Yet - more wonderful still,
Is the unceasing intensity of your love,
Knowing us as we are,
You still reach out to us
Seeking always to turn us back to your way
We confess that we have not loved you:
With all our heart, all our mind, all our soul
Have not loved our neighbour as you commanded.
Yet, in faith we come to you now,
And listen for your words.
So deep, so clear, so moving: "Your sins are forgiven"
Still we hear your call: "Follow me"
Lord, strengthen us, guide us and protect us
- As we move on in the assurance of your forgiving love.

Amen.