PRAYER OF ADORATION  (Psalm 148:7-14)
Praise the LORD, from the earth,
all sea-creatures and ocean depths;
fire and hail, snow and smoke;
stormy wind, working the word of the LORD;
mountains, and hills;
fruit trees and cedars, all of you;
wild animals, cattle, reptiles and birds on the wing;
kings of the earth, and all peoples,
leaders, and all judges of the earth;
young men — and young women too;
old, and young…
Let them praise the name of the LORD
— because it is raised up above everything —
whose majesty is over the earth and heavens;
who has raised up a horn,
to the glory of all receiving the steadfast love of the LORD;
Praise the LORD!

OFFERING
As the parents of Jesus brought sacrifices
to honour you, O God,
so may our working honour you,
our giving be to your glory,
and our living reflect your will for the world:
in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession with connection to the lections for the day. Sometimes this prayer will borrow lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)

Gracious and eternal God,
in whom we find rest and shelter,
hear the cries of our world…
those for whom today is the beginning of life…
and those who face new ventures and new challenges…
those who are engulfed by loneliness, despair or grief…
and who feel cast off from your presence…
those who are walled in by circumstance…
or whose will to live is exhausted…
and those who this day will encounter death…
(The Prayers of the People continue)

Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
Or metrical psalms? Try Dale A. Schoening’s Sing the Psalms