Father's Day Prayer

Our loving heavenly father

You model real fatherhood

By your leadership,

Your service,

Your love,

Your commitment to truth,

Your holiness,

Your grace,

Your commitment,

Your suffering,

And your forgiveness.

We pray for the men of our world

To embrace fatherhood,

To grow in its challenges,

To be worth emulating,

Men, who live God-fearing lives.

May Christ be their all,

May God be their direction,

May grace be their example,

May loyalty be their medal,

And holiness shine from their words,

May they serve, and love, and lead as does Christ our Lord for us,

Dying to themselves that others may truly live.

Included - Ephesians 2:11-22

Father of peace,

You have created reconciliation,

And given us access.

You have broken the dividing wall of hostility,

You have abolished the law and commandments;

So that we who were

Uncircumcised, separated, alienated, strangers, without hope and without God,

Might be reconciled,

Given access,

Made citizens,

And members of your household.

Built into the growing structure,

To be your dwelling place,

By the blood of Christ.

We worship you for our inclusion.

God made us alive - Ephesians 2:1-10

We were dead, 
Locked in sin,
Following Satan,
Captured by our passions,
Prisoner to our desires,
Objects of wrath.
But God
Rich in mercy,

Driven by love,

Made us alive.

Together with Christ,

Raised us up,

Seated us in honour,

Saved us by grace,

As a gift,

Gained by faith.

That you may know - Ephesians 1:15-23

Father you are uniting all things in Christ,

You give to us faith in Jesus,

And love for the saints.

Give us your Spirit,

Give us wisdom,

Give us revelation/light,

That we may know you!

Open our eyes,

Open our hearts,

To know the hope to which you have called us,

The riches of your glorious inheritance,

And the greatness of your power for us;

Shown in the resurrection, ascension, exaltation and rule of Jesus.

God at Work - Ephesians 1:3-14

Our God and Father

You have blessed us,

Chosen us,

Predestined us for adoption.

You have redeemed us,

And forgiven us,

Lavished your grace on us,

And united us with Christ.

You have granted us an eternal inheritance,

And sealed us with your Holy Spirit

To the praise of your glory…

In Christ - Ephesians 1:1,2

Father, you willed to raise apostles,

You called them to speak of Christ Jesus.

You created a church of saints,

You gave us faith,

And you brought us in to Christ Jesus.

Thank you for grace,

Thank you for peace,

Thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Life in Groups - Racism

Father forgive me that I have not seen your image in people;

That my fear of others has conquered my love.

Forgive me that I have not seen the blood of your son shed for all people;

But have instead thought your death was for me alone.

Forgive me that I have not seen the images of heaven;

Of a people gathered around your throne from every tribe, language and nation.

Transform my heart to be like your heart;

And my eyes to see what you see;

And my life to be as your death;

That I may love all people;

As you love us.

Amen