“Carrying the Lost” A Meditation for Celtic Praise.

Podcast - Kessingland Benefice | Suffolk Churches

Are we prepared to stand among the lost and lift them up?

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
faithful shepherd of your Father's sheep:
teach us to hear your voice
and to follow your command,
that all your people may be gathered into one flock,
to the glory of God the Father. Amen

Exodus 32:7-14

7 The Lord said to Moses,

‘Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; 8they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshipped it and sacrificed to it, and said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” ’

9 The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are.

10 Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.’

11 But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, ‘O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

12 Why should the Egyptians say, “It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth”?

Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people.

13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, “I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it for ever.” ’

14 And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, 13even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence.

But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the foremost.

16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.

17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.* Amen.

Luke 15:1 – 10

15 Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.

2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying,

‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

3 So he told them this parable:

4 ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?

5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.

6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them,

“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.”

7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

Prayers

Minister Let us pray to the Father, who through the Son has shown us the way of love

Voice 1 We pray for God’s church and all who seek to serve him. For the mission of the Church, that in faithful witness it may preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. That we may be hands of God’s love in this community reaching out to our neighbours.

May we be the shepherds of your flock – ready to seek out all who need to hear your word of love and peace.

We ask in faith

We ask you to hear us good Lord

Voice 2 We pray for peace in the world.

For leaders and rulers that they may use their power for the good of all people.

For refugees; victims of violence and all who live in fear or have lost hope. That they may be relieved and protected.

We ask in faith

We ask you to hear us good Lord

Voice 3 We pray for the lost, the frightened and all in any kind of need.

[pause]

We pray too for all who are suffering in body, mind or spirit, That they may know that God will seek them out wherever they are and hold them in his love and peace.

[we name before you…]

We ask in faith

We ask you to hear us good Lord

Voice 4 We pray too for those who mourn – may they be comforted. And we remember with thanksgiving all who have walked the way of holiness and now rest in the eternal presence of God.

We ask in faith

We ask you to hear us good Lord

Minister Lord God, we thank you for hearing our prayers and for loving us and all those for whom we have prayed.

Help us to trust you

May we be like Jesus, ready to seek out the lost and the lonely, the sick and the needy and play our part in bringing your kingdom of justice, peace and love into our world.

Amen

Closing Prayer

Merciful Father,
you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd,
and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again:
keep us always under his protection,
and give us grace to follow in his steps;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

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