Let our lives be given us

artist: Matthew Stuart

Intercessions with Esther 7 

We pray for women

who through the ages

have had recourse only

through their wiles,

through the stomachs of men,

the pleasure of men,

in order to be heard. 

We pray for peoples

oppressed and persecuted,

life in constant threat

from empire builders,

dehumanised, victimised,

yearning for a saviour. 

We pray for leaders

inebriated to blindness

by their own power, 

by position; deceived,

undermined, undone, 

and their people with them. 

We pray for women

who find a way 

to break the silence;

for the disempowered

who find the strength

to endure, to survive, to live;

for our leaders

to find their way back

into integrity, and their 

people waiting, 

waiting 

Amen 

We cry shame!

2 Samuel 11:1–12:15 

Confession 

We hear the stories of thieving folk,

those who take what belongs not to them,

and we cry shame! the effrontery! 

Until your word reminds us

'you are the one.' 

When we are the thieving folk,

our God, call us to turn from wrong,

put away our sin,

let us begin again. 

We hear the stories of powerful folk,

abusing their forced for their own ends,

and we cry shame! the effrontery! 

Until your word reminds us

'you are the one.' 

When we are the overbearing folk,

our God, call us to turn from wrong,

put away our sin,

let us begin again. 

We hear the stories of manipulative folk,

twisting, deceiving, others like pawns in a game,

and we cry shame! the effrontery! 

Until your word reminds us

'you are the one.' 

When we are the manipulative folk,

our God, call us to turn from wrong,

put away our sin,

let us begin again. 

We hear stories of self-righteous folk,

so sure their harm is justified,

and we cry shame! the effrontery! 

Until your word reminds us

'you are the one.' 

When we are the self-righteous folk,

our God, call us to turn from wrong,

put away our sin,

let us begin again. 

Assurance of forgiveness 

Come to God with your contrite heart,

your willingness to turn from wrong. 

God will welcome your confession,

and will, and has, put away our sin. 

Look up with thanksgiving,

God will indeed let us begin again.

Thanks be to God. Amen. 

Jesus asks

Acts 4:9–10 

If we are questioned today

because of a good deed done

for someone who was sick, 

and are asked how this one was healed,

or why that one was fed,

this one clothed, these ones given

a drink of water; 

if we are questioned today

because of a clear word spoken

for someone who was oppressed,

and asked by what authority,

or why this one needs funding,

or that one to be heard,

these ones seen, those ones given time

and access to support; 

if we are questioned today

because of our forgiveness 

and asked, how could we? 

or why would we? 

If we are questioned

because we do as Jesus asked,

then someone is asking,

someone provoking, a good question. 

May it be so. Amen. 

That none will be in need

 

Acts 4:32–35 

prayer for ourselves and the world 

Holy One, we bring our prayer to you,

for ourselves and for the world; or

for ourselves as agents for change in the world. 

We pray that we may be of one heart,

committed to you and your Way of Love. 

Where one has plenty and another

is in need, may we give and receive

with generosity and grace,

that all may have enough. 

May we each, in this priesthood

of all believers, tell the story

of your return to life,

in our living, our words, our love. 

Holy One, we bring our prayer

to you, that none will be in need,

that none will be bound by greed,

that all may have enough – 

that all may have enough, to live,

to truly, fully, live! 

Amen. 

Prayer of honesty and hope

Mark 16:1–2 

Easter Day confession & intercession 

When the Sabbath was over – 

Oh, God, help us to pause, 

to breathe, to focus on you; 

help us find the courage

to stop, to feel – even 

what hurts, even what hopes. 

Help us to hold the moment 

long enough to be there;

help us to stay with you

and with each other, even

in the garden of grief. 

Mary, Mary, and Salome brought spices – 

Oh, God, this is a story 

of women, written out of 

so much of your story, our 

story. So we pray for 

the ones written out of the story

for so long, and now finding

their voice, claiming their place;

and we pray for the ones 

still hidden between the lines,

obscured in the shadows, held

off to the edges, the margins,

the outside. More, we pray

for ourselves to see

as you see, welcome as you

do, and listen to shaking voices

with your message to speak. 

So that they might anoint him – 

Oh, God, how do we honour you,

having come among us

in Jesus, having stood firm

for the Way of Justice and Love

in the face of the fiercest 

persecution? What can we do

to honour that act of love,

of reconciliation, of invitation

back to your Way of Justice,

of Love? Help us to see, 

help us to act, to live, our 

honour for you. 

A prayer for strength and sanctuary

Psalm 68:1–10 

Find your strength in Holy One, 

seek in God a sanctuary. 

Parent to the orphan,
we pray for the orphans in our world,
whose parents were taken by war,
by fire, flood, or famine; whose parents
are lost to drug abuse, or accident, to
illness, or poverty, or fear.

May orphaned ones find strength in Holy One,
may there be for you in God and God's people a sanctuary.

Home to the desolate,
we pray for the homeless on our streets,
the un- and under-employed,
the retrenched, the desperate and afraid;
those sleeping on benches, in cars,
in shelters, tents, cardboard boxes.

May desolate ones find strength in Holy One,
may there be for you in God and God's people a sanctuary.

Restorer of prisoners,
we pray for the imprisoned out of our community,
those immersed in justice systems
sometimes devoid of justice;
those spiralling down cycles of crime,
those reaching for change, education,
opportunity, for hope.

May prisoners find strength in Holy One,
may there be for for you in God and God's people a sanctuary.

Provider for the needy,
we pray for all in need today –
for the ill, the grieving, for isolated,
lonely people, for essential workers,
emergency, defence, health system
employees and volunteers; for teachers,
for leaders, for our families,
our friends and neighbours, and we pray
for ourselves.

[leave a time of silence]

May we find strength in Holy One,
May there be for us all in God and God's people a sanctuary.
Amen.

When in need

after Psalm 31:1–5, 15–16 

When I retreat,

I look for you,

Sacred Shelter. 

When I need rest,

I come to you,

Holy Home. 

When we are attacked,

we stand under

Wisdom's Wings. 

When we see injustice,

we stand with you,

Merciful Justice. 

When in need,

You are all,

Most Holy One. 

Amen. 

Day by day we grow

Artwork: youth & friends,
Wesley Uniting, Canberra

Acts 2: 42–47 

day by day, grow us together
day by day, moment by moment

grow us in kindness,
as we look for each other,
encourage each other,
remember, celebrate, care
with one another

grow us in generosity
as we share our food
with the hungry, give water
for the thirsty to drink,
offer shelter, spread our wealth
towards those who have not
enough

grow us in trust in you,
as we still ourselves,
as we pray in word
and silence and action,
as we sing, tell your story,
live your Way of Wisdom

day by day, grow us together,
each day with you, each moment one.

to follow your Way

Psalm 112  

Holy One, Holy Three,

we pray, striving to follow with delight

your Way of Wisdom 

we pray for the generations after us,

emerging, unborn, as yet unimagined: 

may the land embrace them, and may

they embrace creation; 

may riches of love and home adorn their lives;

may they be faithful, in right relationship with You;

we pray for their light to shine

in dark times, for their kindness,

forgiveness, integrity 

we pray for generosity from ourselves,

our forebears, our descendants: 

we pray, too, for justice – 

may we be remembered for the justice 

we enact 

we pray for hearts secure in You,

Holy One, confident, courageous, compassionate 

we pray for the poor, and may our prayers

be visible in our acts of remembering and care

we pray to so follow your Way of Wisdom 

that the wicked will be thrown off balance,

that harm will be undone,

that love will endure

and lead us home 

Amen 

Your Kin-dom Come

Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus, teach us again,
for whom your kin-dom comes:

the kindom belongs to the ailing spirits,
the ones in need of hope

the kindom comes to those who mourn,
the ones in need of comfort

the kindom is given to the humble,
the ones who ask for nothing

the kindom comes to the just,
the ones who thirst for what is right

the kindom belongs to the merciful,
they, too, will receive mercy

the kindom comes for the pure-hearted,
the ones with eyes open to God

the kindom is given to peacemakers,
living as children of God

the kindom comes to the persecuted,
standing firm with integrity in Wisdom

the kindom belongs to us,
though we suffer for the sake of God

the kindom comes for us -
rejoice, enter, and live!

Loud Lamentation

Matthew 2:13-18 

How can we hear your story of flight,
Jesus son of Joseph and Mary,
and not hear the stories of flight
that flood across our borders?

Holy One have mercy.
Holy One have mercy. 

How can we hear of Herod's fury,
Jesus son of Joseph and Mary,
and not hear the ringing of tyrants'
fear-filled rage through our own time, still?

Holy One have mercy.
Holy One have mercy. 

How can we hear of innocents' slaughter,
Jesus son of Joseph and Mary,
and not hear echoes of children slaughtered
in wars, abused at home, starving near and far?

Holy One have mercy.
Holy One have mercy. 

How can we hear of ancient wailing,
Jesus son of Joseph and Mary,
in Bethlehem and Ramah, and not hear
the wails of the unconsolable now?

Holy One have mercy.
Holy One have mercy. 

Help us to hear your ancient story,
Jesus son of Joseph and Mary,
and to meet the stories we hear today
with compassion, welcome, hope.

Holy One have mercy.
Holy One have mercy. 
Amen. 

Wisdom come again

Wisdom of Solomon 10:15–21 

As Wisdom delivered God's people of old,
we pray with the oppressed today.
We pray for liberation,
we pray for Wisdom to come again.

As Wisdom has entered souls before,
we pray for God's prophets today;
we pray for resistance of injustice,
we pray for Wisdom to come again.

As Wisdom has guided God's people before,
we pray for all who still seek your Way;
we pray for the peace we strive for,
we pray for Wisdom to come again.

As Wisdom has sheltered God's people of old,
we pray for the scared and lost today;
we pray for protection and light;
we pray for Wisdom to come again.

As Wisdom has travelled with God's people through time,
we pray for ourselves and our world;
we pray for your presence with us,
we pray for Wisdom to come again.

Amen.


this prayer might work well in two voices, taking two lines each in turn 

Lament for the fleeing

Matthew 2:13–23 

Why, oh Holy One,

have we not learnt from our story, 

that humans fleeing massacres

need a safe place to stay

like Mary, Joseph, and Jesus

fleeing Bethlehem for Egypt? 

Why, oh Holy One,

have we not learnt from our story,

that refugees arriving on leaky boats

weave tenacious threads through our community,

make us stronger,

like another Joseph, 

in an older Egypt? 

Why, oh Holy One,

do we not learn from our story,

not listen to the messengers,

or angels, or prophets,

calling us back to your Way

of Love and Justice  – 

angels you have sent to warn

and protect, again and again? 

Holy One, hear our lamentation

for the fleeing, the weeping; 

for the injustice, the unkindness: 

help us to enact your love and justice

for a new day dawning with the light

of the Christ born again and again. 

Amen

Persistent Intercession

Luke 18:1–8 

Leader: We cry for justice, Judge of all creation.
All: And we will cry till we are satisfied. 

We cry out in marches,
strikes, and rallies,
led by the young
who see the urgent need
for just living with creation
more clearly than those
already through their schooling.

Leader: We cry for justice, Judge of all creation.
All: And we will cry till we are satisfied. 

We cry out from bank accounts,
our abundance flowing
over toward our neighbours
deep in need – farmers
on parched land, students without books
or shoes, mothers without medicine
for their children.

Leader: We cry for justice, Judge of all creation.
All: And we will cry till we are satisfied. 

We cry out from hospitals
and nursing homes, where
illness ravages and care
is stretched beyond capacity;
we sit beside the suffering
and isolated and grieving ones
who yearn for comfort, love, and hope.

Leader: We cry for justice, Judge of all creation.
All: And we will cry till we are satisfied. 

We cry out with our votes
and letters and signatures on petitions,
calling leaders to act for the vulnerable:
for refugees, for the homes from which
they flee, for peace. We cry, we cry
for peace.

Leader: We cry for justice, Judge of all creation.
All: And we will cry till we are satisfied. 

We cry out in solidarity
with the indigenous people of this land,
more, we still our own voices and hear
their crying for themselves, give space
and time and honour where too long
they have been taken.

Leader: We cry for justice, Judge of all creation.
All: And we will cry till we are satisfied. 
Amen.

the endless love of Holy One

Psalm 85 

We know the stories of our ancestors;

of Holy One's  rightful anger withdrawn. 

Holy One forgives the people of the Story 

again, and over again. 

Will Holy One be angry with us forever? 

Or will Holy One forget indignation? 

Holy One will revive us again,
will show lovingkindness without end.

Hear the voice of Holy One  – the voice of peace it is.
Faithful people of Holy One, turn your hearts and listen.

See in Holy One the meeting of faithfulness
and lovingkindness; the kiss of justice and peace.

Faithfulness will flow like a spring from Earth;
justice will rain from the sky.

Trust in Holy One, who gives what is good;
walk the path of justice, walk with Holy One.


this is a psalm of affirmation. it may be used as an assurance of forgiveness or grace after a time of silence in which the people are invited to bring the fulness of their humanity, flawed and beautiful, before God (in place of a prayer of confession) 

Gone off: like fruit from summer

Amos 8:1–12 

I stand here in Canberra, under mid-winter
southern skies, with the Story, and this –
this – is what Holy One shows us:
a basket of fruit from summer.
Holy One says, Sarah, what do you see?
A basket of fruit from summer, I say,
and I can smell it, too
(and I cough).
Then Holy One said to me:
thus judgement has come upon my people;
I am done, I can no longer stay.
And when I go, your songs will turn
to wailings, death will cover every place:

silence.


So listen, and hear this now, you
that trample on the needy,
bring to ruin the poor of the land;
you who buy up all the land,
who look at humans and see
only opportunities for sales to fill
your pockets; you who make your dollars stretch,
while shrinking the cents you throw
at the poor – do you buy
your comfort for silver bars
to hold them captive, your
piece of mind giving your pieces
of last season to Goodwill?

Listen to the Story, the story
of Holy One – I do not forget,
and I see all you have done.
This land will tremble for
your deeds, and mourning will come
to all who live here; all
shall rise like the summer mudbowl
in Queensland, be tossed about
and sink and shrink like those silted
northern floods.

On the day I leave you – for leave
I must if you continue unjust –
the sun will disappear at noon,
the earth will be dark though it is day.
You feast now, but then you will famish;
hum now, but then you will howl;
your fine clothes will matter no more,
your hair will dry and knot and fall out ...
It will be bitter mourning, as a parent
grieves a child – and you will know
what I know.

Think not that a dearth of food and water
will be the worst you will face
when I am gone: there is a famine
far worse coming for you, for you will hear
not, no more, the word of Holy One.
You will wander from desert to coast,
from rainforest to mountain, and you
will find it not, will hear it not,
no more:
the word of Holy One. 

Bring us home

a confession and assurance of grace 
after Psalm 52 

We know we have done wrong,
our God, the Holy One;
we know that we are sometimes pleased
with ourselves, for causing harm.

Break down our false selves,
bring us home to your true love. 

Our tongues have been like razors,
our work more treacherous than kind;
we speak to wound much more
than giving voice to hope and healing.

Break down our false selves,
bring us home to your true love. 

We have acted without integrity,
we are too often dishonest, deceitful, unjust.
We cut others down when
we could have planted seeds of life.

Break down our false selves,
bring us home to your true love. 

We have been enticed by wealth,
by prosperity and success;
we have strayed from your path,
been unwise, unfaithful, untrue.

Break down our false selves,
bring us home to your true love. 

Pause 

Assurance of grace 

Turn again, to Holy One,
turn and seek refuge here,
in the faithful love of the Divine.
Become again green trees of life,
growing in your home, the soil of Holy One;
know yourselves restored to life,
praise Holy One, be ever thankful.
Amen.

Holy call for justice

after Psalm 82 

prayers for ourselves and others 

Holy One commands us: 

act with justice,

hold the harmful to account. 

Holy One, you call for justice: 

make us your instruments, we pray. 

For the vulnerable in our community: 

aged and young, ill, differently abled,

the jobless, homeless, friendless, 

first inhabitants and refugees – 

Holy One, you call for justice: 

make us your instruments, we pray. 

For the vulnerable in our world,

lacking opportunities for education,

healthcare, clean water, food;

fleeing war, oppression, persecution – 

Holy One, you call for justice: 

make us your instruments, we pray. 

For our vulnerable earth on which we live, 

straining with overpopulation,

reeling from human abuse, 

suffocating under our great negligence – 

Holy One, you call for justice: 

make us your instruments, we pray. 

Holy One commands us: 

act with justice,

hold the harmful to account. 

Judge us according to your mercy, Holy One,

and hold us to your Way of Justice. 

Amen. 

Holy is She

Psalm 99 

God is Queen: let the peoples tremble.
She sits enthroned among the heavenly realm:
let the whole earth cower.

God is great in the Holy places,
She is honoured among all the peoples:
let them praise Your great and awesome Name –
Holy is She!

Mighty Queen, tower of justice,
You have established equity;
You have embodied steadfast love,
restored right relationship.

Praise the Holy One, our God,
worship at her feet.

Miriam was Her prophet,
Deborah Her judge of justice:
Women cry to Holy One,
and She has answered them.

She spoke to Hagar in the desert,
gave strength to daughters
claiming inheritance, kept hope
of salvation alive through Ruth.

Holy One, our God, You
have answered Your people,
You have forgiven and You
have sought always justice and right.

Praise Holy One our God:
worship at Her holy mountain,
for She our God is Holy.

Heaven known on Earth

Luke 6:17–26 

Blessed are you now
destitute
the kin-dom overflows.

Blessed are you now
hungry
the kin-dom satisfies.

Blessed are you now
weeping
the kin-dom restores joy.

Blessed are you now
hated
the kin-dom disturbs the world.


Sing now, dance now,
the day is hard upon you;
look now, to heaven,
known now here on earth.


Woe to you now
wealthy
the kin-dom will not console.

Woe to you now
fed
the kin-dom empties.

Woe to you now
laughing
the kin-dom silences.

Woe to you now
hailed by peers
the kin-dom testifies to truth.


Hear now, see now,
the day is hard upon you;
look now, to heaven,
known now here on earth.