Original prayers, inspired by Waiora Te Moni ‘He Rau Hiki’ ‘Rau Whakmoemiti’ in He Rau Aroha (2023, Te Wānanga Ihorangi) and Ps 34:1-8 Eph 4:25–5:2 John 6:35,41-51.

A preparation

Whāia, whāia te ara Matua
Whāia, whāia te ara Atua

Seek and you shall find the path of the Lord
Seek and you shall find God the Father.

Titiro atawhai mai,
Ki ō mātou roimata
Ki a rātou mā kua ngaro ki te pō
Whakaorangia mātou
Kia ora.

Look with grace
Upon our tears
For those who have passed
into the long night.
Deliverance
Is your promise.

Kia whai korōria ki a Ihowā
Kia pūmau tonu tōu ingoa
Ake, āke.

Be glorified, O Lord
Your glory endures forever.

Let us pray for the church and the world 

E te Atua kaha rawa, God of strength
We pray for our world,
In a time where divisions seem all consuming
Take from our mouths and our hearts
Words and thoughts of malice and bitterness;
Call us instead to love with strength,
Call us to connect,
Without diminishing the mana of others.
May your Holy Spirit move ordinary people in every place
To see in others your bright image,
and to know they need not fear.

Bidding: Jesus, you are the bread. 
Response: which you gave us for the life of the world.

God we give thanks for our church;
This body, this gathering of the hungry.
May our church be places where we know holy fear and awe,
But not shame before one another.
May our leaders know humility and purpose;
May our children know love and kindness;
May our youth know safety and challenge;
May our adults single, or coupled, know true fellowship;
May our elders know respect and care;
Together may we all taste and see
That God is good.

Bidding: Jesus, you are the bread. 
Response: which you gave us for the life of the world.

Bless our communities;
Throughout Aotearoa;
Especially where wages no longer cover both rent and good food,
Where illness is a cost to be met;
Where hope is costly too.
E te Wairua Tapu tend and heal,
Enliven and inspire
The people of our cities, our towns, our rural places, and our marae;
the many and the few.

Bidding: Jesus, you are the bread. 
Response: which you gave us for the life of the world.

Jesus, son, brother, friend
You are the bread
that came to us from heaven, 
which anyone may eat and not die.
Strengthen us this day -
And in the week ahead
To share that love with others.
To feed others with your bread of life
To call others to know you.

 Amen.