This Sunday Richard spoke about the Church of England’s recent announcement of an £100M reparation fund designated for communities historically ravaged by the Atlantic Slave trade, from which the Church benefitted financially. How do we view atonement in this context? Then Adriaan, via Heston, led us in prayers for affirmation, justice and inclusion in the wake of the recent announcement about the Church’s decision to deny equal marriage, while accepting the blessing of same sex partnerships.
Here is the text of our prayers this morning:
Dear God,
Your blessing is wherever there is love.
Yet, this week the Church of England decided not to marry two people of the same-sex in love for one another.
We pray for your forgiveness for a church that fails to recognise your most important command.
We pray for your comfort for each and everyone who has been hurt by this decision, who feel to be rejected, again.
We thank you for the small step forward that the church is making, offering prayers to same-sex couples,
and we pray for those who feel that this step is already one too far – that they may find peace;
and we pray for those who keep campaigning for further progress to be made – that they may find strength and resilience.
Dear God,
Your blessing is wherever there is love.
And today, we thank you for the gift of love in all its diversity.
We thank you for the blessing that same-sex loving people have been, and continue to be, for the church and our society,
their many gifts and talents, their manyfold contributions.
We pray for your church to recognise and celebrate the diversity of your creation;
to recognise and celebrate the value and virtue present in every human being.
We pray for the mission of the church to make visible in the world your love and justice in all its fullness – let our actions reflect those words.
We thank you for this church of All Hallows, that is such a special place where love can dwell,
And we pray that everyone who is part of our community will continue to grow in faith, in hope, and in love.
Dear God,
We thank you for the gift of your dear Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
He has lived your love among us, abundantly.
He has lived your forgiveness among us, generously.
He has brought reconciliation among us, radically.
Help us to shape our lives after his example,
and to grow our faith out of the new beginning that he has made possible.
Through him, each and every one of us is a child of you, dear God.
Help us to be one Family in your name,
transcending our differences, everything that divides us,
and transforming your world through your love.
Amen
Here is the text of our prayers this morning:
Dear God,
Your blessing is wherever there is love.
Yet, this week the Church of England decided not to marry two people of the same-sex in love for one another.
We pray for your forgiveness for a church that fails to recognise your most important command.
We pray for your comfort for each and everyone who has been hurt by this decision, who feel to be rejected, again.
We thank you for the small step forward that the church is making, offering prayers to same-sex couples,
and we pray for those who feel that this step is already one too far – that they may find peace;
and we pray for those who keep campaigning for further progress to be made – that they may find strength and resilience.
Dear God,
Your blessing is wherever there is love.
And today, we thank you for the gift of love in all its diversity.
We thank you for the blessing that same-sex loving people have been, and continue to be, for the church and our society,
their many gifts and talents, their manyfold contributions.
We pray for your church to recognise and celebrate the diversity of your creation;
to recognise and celebrate the value and virtue present in every human being.
We pray for the mission of the church to make visible in the world your love and justice in all its fullness – let our actions reflect those words.
We thank you for this church of All Hallows, that is such a special place where love can dwell,
And we pray that everyone who is part of our community will continue to grow in faith, in hope, and in love.
Dear God,
We thank you for the gift of your dear Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
He has lived your love among us, abundantly.
He has lived your forgiveness among us, generously.
He has brought reconciliation among us, radically.
Help us to shape our lives after his example,
and to grow our faith out of the new beginning that he has made possible.
Through him, each and every one of us is a child of you, dear God.
Help us to be one Family in your name,
transcending our differences, everything that divides us,
and transforming your world through your love.
Amen