Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

1. Acknowledgement
As we begin our meeting today
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners
who have cared for this land for thousands of years.
We also acknowledge their descendants,
who maintain spiritual connections and traditions.
Let us reflect together, before we pray,
on the millions of footprints that have travelled the Dreaming pathways
and our own loved ones who have gone before us.

2. We gather
Leader: As we gather, we are reminded that God waits expectantly.
With open arms, the hospitality of God calls and welcomes us home.
During Lent, God draws close to us, as a parent welcoming all their children.
Let the humble hear and be glad.
All: We are filled with praises of God.
Leader: When we seek God,
All: We are answered and delivered.
Leader: When we look to God,
All: We are radiant.
Leader: Forgiving God, you keep watch for our return to you. Faithful is your love for us.
Help us to live in grateful response to your embrace.
Inspire us to praise, worship and to be of service.
Fill our hearts with all that is good.
All: Amen.

3. We listen

4. Gospel reading
A reading from the Gospel of John
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That whosoever believeth in Him, may not perish; but may have life everlasting.
For God so loved the world, as to give His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him, may
not perish, but may have life everlasting.
For God sent not His Son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by
Him.
The Gospel of the Lord
R: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

5. We respond

6. We go forth
Leader: Remembering that we are immersed in God’s love, we pray:
Reader 1: God of forgiveness, you invite us into the very centre of your Being. Quieten our minds
and open our hearts to you. Draw near, O God.
All: Graciously hear us.
Reader 2: You are always waiting expectantly for our arrival – you know us so much better that we
know ourselves. Open our eyes to who we truly are in You. Draw near, O God.
All: Graciously hear us.
Reader 3: You keep watch over those who experience difficult times. Open our hearts to respond
in love to those who need support. Draw near, O God.
All: Graciously hear us.

7. We pray together
Leader: We pray together -
All: Forgiving God, draw us ever closer to you.
Encourage us to be still, to listen, to remember, to act.
Fill us, protect us, renew us, be with us as we journey onwards.
Amen.