Bringing hope.... Worship resources celebrating the work of Action for Children

A prayer of confession Gracious God, While the infinitely rich variety of people in our world gives cause for celebration it is also immensely challenging to us. We often prefer the security of the few we know well to the disturbance of meeting new and different people. We too easily accept stereotypes of others and fail to approach people with a willingness to learn new truths from our encounters with them. Humble us and by your Spirit renew our commitment to being hospitable, to unconditional giving and practical caring. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bible readings Genesis 25 verses Vital life and painful struggle. Matthew 13 verses 1-9, The parable of the Sower.

An offering prayer Let us pray, O God, in Jesus you taught the way of giving generously and receiving gladly. As we present these gifts of money enable us to live with open minds and hearts that we may give generously from the bounty of all we have received. Enable Action for Children to use these gifts to bring practical care, compassion and support to vulnerable and marginalised children, young people and families in Britain and grant that by our partnership together we may bring hope, support and comfort in time of need. Amen

A prayer for Action for Children Sunday (as printed on the prayer card) Gracious God, We thank you for the rich 145 year heritage that Action for Children shares within the Methodist Church in Britain. Inspire Action for Children today that, with partners in Britain and beyond, it may work with integrity, passion and hope to meet the needs of children young people and families who need their care most. We pray that practical action that embodies love and care may be effectively bolstered through Action for Children’s campaigns for change to national legislation about neglect, and to stop the financial exploitation of young people. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Prayers of Intercession Loving God, you do not create us to live alone and you have not made us all alike. We thank you for the varied society of humankind, into which we come, by which we are brought up, and through which we discover the purpose of our lives. In gratitude we pray for others and for the work of Action for Children. We pray for families under stress, for tense and fractured relationships, for parents exhausted and isolated wondering where to turn, and for children angry and afraid. As Action for Children works with families having the most difficult problems, we pray for its family support services and also its early intervention services, working with children, young people and families at an early stage to help tackle problems before they become more serious. (Silence)

Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom come We pray for children and young people in care, for all they have been through and continue to bear, for trust and stability and hope for the future. We pray for Action for Children’s fostering and adoption services helping children who can’t live with their birth families find loving homes and for Action for Children’s schools, and residential respite services. (Silence)

Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom come We pray for the vulnerable in our society, and victims of abuse. We pray for Action for Children’s work with the victims of sexual abuse, its youth justice work, counselling services and youth support services. (Silence)

Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom come We join our prayers with those campaigning to stop the financial exploitation of young people by loan sharks and pay-day lenders; for decent homes for all care leavers; and for better services for neglected children (Silence)

Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom come We pray for the needs of children throughout the world. We pray for Action for Children’s International work especially its partnerships with the Methodist churches in Southern Africa, and Zimbabwe. (Silence)

Through our lives and by our prayers Your kingdom come We say together ‘The Lords’ Prayer’