These prayers may be used in worship (if printed they should show the attribution) but perhaps even more importantly they may be used to provide ideas for your own prayers.

Thank you to the WellSpring Centre and to Dr Charles Sherlock for their help.

God of our nation.

As we thank you for freedom we pray that our economic policies may extend freedom to others - both within and without Australia.

As we thank you for food & shelter we ask for forgiveness for the inequality of the world's resources.  We pray that the formation of our economic policies will allow us to share what we have.

As we thank you for our standard of living we are ashamed of the gap between wealthy and poor in Australia and pray for policies and action that will help to bridge that gap.

We thank you for many politicians who genuinely desire to make moral & just decisions for the good of all.  For them we pray energy,wisdom & hope as they draft the economic policies of our country.

We also pray for their families for whom the cost can be great.

Lord in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

(By members of The WellSpring Centre, Ashburton)

Let us pray for the preservation of the earth.

We give thanks for the beauty and abundance of the earth. Give us and all peoples grace to live in harmony with your creation, wisdom and generosity in our use of its bounty.

Let us pray for peace and shared prosperity.

We give thanks for leaders who serve the common good. Give wisdom to those who have responsibility and authority in every land, that we may share with justice the resources of the world, and work together in trust.

Let us pray for our nation.

We give thanks for this land and the diversity of its peoples. Grant that we may so honour one another that all may be enriched by our common heritage and freed from despair, poverty and exclusion.

Let us pray for the Church and its mission.

We give thanks for the good news of salvation for all people. Strengthen us for our work in the world, empower your Church to proclaim the gospel in service, word and sacrament. Unite in the truth all who confess your name, that we may live together in love to your glory.

 Let us pray for ourselves and our community.

We give thanks for the fellowship of the communities in which we live and work. We commend to your keeping ourselves and each other, our families, those with whom we work and learn, our neighbours and our friends. Enable us by your Spirit to live in love for you and for one another.

 Let us pray for those in need.

We give thanks that you are the God who brings mercy and wholeness. Comfort and heal, we pray, all who are in sorrow, need, sickness, or any other trouble. Give to those who care for them wisdom, patience and gentleness and, to us all, your peace.

 Let us give thanks for the faithful departed.

We give you thanks for your servants in every age. Grant that we, with [N and] all your saints, may be brought to a joyful resurrection and the fulfilment of your kingdom.

A Prayer Book for Australia (Sydney: Broughton Books, 1995)

God the Father, maker of heaven and earth,

have mercy on us.

God the Son, redeemer of the world,

have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, giver of light and life,

have mercy on us.

For accepting life yet living it without you,

forgive us, Lord.

For living without concern for others,

forgive us, Lord.

For tolerating oppression, injustice and wrong,

forgive us, Lord.

For disobeying your will and commandments,

forgive us, Lord.

For refusing to love and forgive others,

forgive us, Lord.

For turning the world to our own purposes and desires,

forgive us, Lord.

That in all things we may hold to your will and purpose,

Lord, hear us. Amen.

A Prayer Book for Australia (Sydney: Broughton Books, 1995)

4. Prayer for reconciliation

Let us pray that we will be joined together in working for reconciliation,

and the healing of our ancient land and its peoples.

Forgive us for remaining silent and bound by fear.

Give us the courage to speak and act with justice.

Forgive us for our arrogance in closing our eyes to all peoples and cultures.

Enable us to know your redeeming power.

Forgive us for disfiguring this land and despoiling its bounty.

Come Holy Spirit, renew the whole creation.

Forgive us for despising the cultures of others, and taking away their self-respect.

Give us grace to bind one another’s wounds.

Forgive us for not listening to the griefs of all who are oppressed in this land, especially … *

Draw us together as one people.

Forgive us for our prejudice and indifference towards those whose ways differ from our ways.

Strengthen us to live with respect and compassion for one another.

 A Prayer Book for Australia (Sydney: Broughton Books, 1995)

The following prayers are from A Prayer Book for Australia (Sydney: Broughton Books, 1995)

In times of conflict

God our refuge and strength,

you have bound us together in a common life:

help us, in the midst of our present conflict

to confront one another without hatred or bitterness

to listen for your voice amid competing claims

and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Good government

Spirit of justice and truth,

grant to our governments and all who serve in public life,

wisdom and skill, imagination and energy;

protect them from corruption

and the temptation of self-serving.

Help us to commit ourselves to the common good

that our land may be a secure home for all its peoples,

through Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Parliament

Most gracious God, ruler of the nations,

we pray for the Parliament of this

State/Territory/Commonwealth,

its members and officers [and especially forÉ].

Direct their work and influence their decisions

to the advancement of your glory,

and the safety and welfare of this country,

so that peace and happiness, truth and justice,

may be established among us;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Australia

God, bless Australia,

guard our people

guide our leaders

and give us peace;

for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Reconciliation

Lord God, bring us together as one,

reconciled with you and reconciled with each other.

You made us in your likeness,

you gave us your Son, Jesus Christ.

He has given us forgiveness from sin.

Lord God, bring us together as one,

different in culture, but given new life in Jesus Christ,

together as your body, your Church, your people.

Lord God, bring us together as one,

reconciled, healed, forgiven,

sharing you with others as you have called us to do.

In Jesus Christ, let us be together as one. Amen.

The unemployed

Heavenly Father, we remember before you

those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of employment.

Guide the people of this land

to use their wealth and resources

so that everyone may find suitable and fulfilling work.

May all receive just payment and recognition for their labour,

and offer the fruit of their toil in service to you and one another;

through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The poor and neglected

God of mercy and pity,

remember the homeless, the destitute, the sick, the aged,

and all who have none to care for them.

Heal those who are broken in body or spirit,

and turn their sorrow into joy.

Help us to minister to their needs,

for the love of your Son,

who for our sake became poor,

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Family breakdown

God of peace,

we pray for families in crisis.

Heal the broken-hearted,

and bind up the wounded;

comfort and sustain them in their need.

Give them wise and faithful friends,

grace to forgive and be forgiven,

and courage for the road ahead,

in the name of Jesus. Amen.

A thanksgiving for Australia

Creator Spirit, God of holy dreaming,

from the dawn of creation you have given your children

the good things of this earth.

You spoke and the gum tree grew.

In the vast desert and dense forest

and in cities at the water’s edge,

creation sings your praise.

Your presence endures

as the rock at the heart of our Land.

When Jesus hung on the tree

you heard the cries of all your people

and became one with your wounded ones:

the convicts, the hunted, and the dispossessed.

The sunrise of your Son coloured the earth anew,

and bathed it in glorious hope.

In Jesus we have been reconciled to you,

to each other and to your whole creation.

Lead us on, Great Spirit,

as we gather from the four corners of the earth;

enable us to walk together in trust

from the hurts and shame of the past

into the full day which has dawned in Jesus Christ. Amen.