Labour of Love Congregational Prayer

Labouring God, the sea and sky are your work,
every hill and plain, every valley and cliff
fashioned by your hands.
Towering trees and creeping plants,
blossoms, sweet and rare or common as dandelions,
all created by you.
The creatures are your opus,
every fin, paw, wing and hand,
all that runs, swims, soars and wriggles,
your work.
The world cries out, “Good job!”
We join our voice to this chorus,
singing the world beautiful, singing the Lord glorious,
singing our thanks for your labour of love.
We confess that we have not been enthusiastic
about the work you give us to do.
It’s too hard, or we’re too tired,
loving people is more work than we bargained for.
Give us courage and strength for the long haul,
and hope for relationships where we’ve given up.
As our congregation makes decisions
of how and where to spend our time and energy,
give us wisdom as we work together.
Helps us support those among us who are flagging;
those who are sick or grieving.
Give us sensitivity as we share our resources
with those who are in financial difficulty.
Thank you for the creativity you’ve given us,
for the beauty we create through art, or music,
through the work we do with our hands,
through the meals we make
and the homes we create.
The work is light when Jesus walks by our side,
directing and guiding us all the way.
In his name we pray, Amen.