Eternal God you give us senses to see, hear and touch and minds which can store knowledge:
your Spirit births us to insight and faith in Jesus your Son. In the power of your eternal love
Jesus was born into the world and lived, spoke and acted for you. He went to the cross
to declare your loving concern for the world of people.
He opens men and women to faith as a new relationship with you through the gift of your Spirit.
Holy and Blessed Trinity you are blessed for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer
God our Father, as human beings we walk a fine line between ignorance and arrogant pride
which thinks it knows all things. You want to lead us gently into your kind of truth
which has more to do with right dealings between people than with facts and fictions.
To help us you gave us your Son to live and speak with us and show us how to be human.
He called us to risk ourselves to your loving purposes, giving us insight and granting us faith.
Lord Jesus you knew what is in us and your love for us remains undiminished and eternal.
You knew the arid dead-ends to which our religion can lead us without openness to new possibilities
in the Spirit. You are Gods way to knowing and trusting in the Father, and our way of holding converse
with God. Grant us new eyes to see and new hearts to trust in the possibilities of life which is fresh
and abundant.
Spirit of God, our companion and advocate, may we be aware and open to your influence
which always prompts us towards the love of Jesus exalted on the cross and offered to all.
Speak with us in the words of scripture and in the life of the community of Jesus,
guiding our feet into the way of peace and our lives as expressions of love in this world.
Holy Trinity, God in whom we live and move and breathe, known to us through Jesus as our Father,
in Jesus as our Saviour, and in the Spirit as companion and guide: you are the One by whom all things exist
and in whom all will reach their fulfillment: in this we are confident through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Poem for Worship
by Jenn Gordon
born from above
John 3: 1-17
once born
slippery, fragile and loud
cord cut, we gasp with the certainty
of our separate selves
and spend the rest of our lives
breathing our way
back into communion
once born
hungry for nurture
we nuzzle the breast of God
searching for the source
until, attached, we taste
new wine poured out
flowing freely
unmeasured, unrelenting
once born
startled by the starkness of day
and the unsounded depth of night
this enormous expanse of nothing
we flail, arms, legs and lungs
until cuddled and cooed
to the tune of peace
in the secure lap of loves embrace
we sleep
(Comments to Jenn at jennieg@labyrinth.net.au.)