Prayers: 10th May 2026

6th Sunday of Easter/Te Rātapu Tuaono o te Aranga

Taken from/inspired by 1 Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:7-19, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15, and the ANZPB.

Bidding:  Praise our God, all peoples, 
Response: Let the sound of his praise be heard. 
[from Psalm 66:8]

Come and hear, all you who fear God;
    let me tell you what he has done for me.
 I cried out to him with my mouth;
    His praise was on my tongue.
 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
    the Lord would not have listened;
 but God has surely listened
    and has heard my prayer.
[Psalm 66:16-19]

Let us pray.

…in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,  keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
[1 Peter 3: 15-18]

Lord Jesus, may our communities be places of your peace.

[silence]

Bidding:  Praise our God, all peoples,
Response: let the sound of his praise be heard.

  Jesus said, “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
[John 9:39]

We pray for your church; may we grow in your Truth.

[silence]

Bidding:  Praise our God, all peoples,
Response: let the sound of his praise be heard.

…water symbolises baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,  who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
[1 Peter 3: 21-22]

Lord, we pray for the world. Rescue us from the powers and principalities which oppress your creation. 

[silence]

Bidding:  Praise our God, all peoples,
Response: Let the sound of his praise be heard.

Eternal God, light of the minds that know you, joy of the hearts that love you, strength of the wills that serve you; grant us so to know you that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may gladly serve you, now and always.

Amen.