08C*
A Call to Worship
Epiphany of the Lord Year C 2010
Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14

The Lord’s name is always to be trusted.
Let us praise our trustworthy God.

We have always trusted in God to be
an influence for good amongst our leaders.
O God, on whom we always rely,
bless and give direction all national leaders.

May all our leaders be compassionate
and all people be blessed through their rule,
so that God’s name may be praised.
Let us worship the God who rules all things. Amen.

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Prayers of Petition
Epiphany of the Lord Year C 2010
Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14

O Lord our Trustworthy God, we bring to you our prayers
for the leaders of all nations. We pray that they will realise
that their natural talents and abilities were given to them
as gifts from God. We pray that they will accept and wisely
use these gifts in leadership for the benefit of all their people.

We pray that all leaders of the nations will show mercy,
justice and compassion, so that they may support the weak
and the afflicted; so that they may rescue the destitute
from their needy situations; and release the oppressed
from all that restricts them from living a fulfilling life.

We pray that the nations’ leaders will earn respect from
other leaders and nations, as well as from their own people,
male and female, child and adult. Under their leadership,
may God’s upright reign flourish in the hearts and minds
of people, and that peace will be a blessing for all people.

O Lord our dependable God, may these leaders use
the natural resources of their nation for the benefit
of all their people, and may prosperity be understood
as a blessing from God, and the shared resources from
other nations be used for the benefit of everyone.

O Lord, our Trustworthy God, we look to you
for your blessing on all honourable leaders. Amen.

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A Personal Meditation
Epiphany of the Lord Year C 2010
Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14

Today, I join in praying with the Psalmist of bygone days—
to pray for the leaders of the nations of this world, that they
will govern wisely, and bring prosperity and security to their
people. I also join with the Psalmist to pray for justice; for the
defeat of oppression and greed; and for renewed support
and encouragement for poor and destitute people of these nation.



Like that ancient Psalmist, I pray that God’s Kingly reign will be
honoured, and that all leaders within communities, governments
and churches, will worship and follow the true King of all things.
I pray too that this commitment to following God’s path will be an
example to their people by showing them a model of Godly living
of compassion for people who are weak, destitute, oppressed or
overlooked; and with special care and support for all their children.



I pray too that the leaders of nations will wisely use the natural
resources of their lands and their industries; and also their people
resources - that priceless gift of people with individual skills so
that they may serve each other, their nation, and their world.

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Acknowledgements:
Unless stated otherwise, all Bible readings and extracts used in these weekly Prayers and Meditations are from
‘The New Revised Standard Version’ Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council
of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

*The additional weekly numbering is from the Revised COCU Indexing Scheme
COCU = ('Consultation on Church Union'); as it offers an easy sequential numbering
for the Revised Common Lectionary for the Church Calendar.

If any part of these Prayers and/or Meditations is used in shared worship, please provide
the following acknowledgement:
© 2010 Joan Stott – ‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year C. Used with permission.

jstott@netspace.net.au

Download/view a pdf file of this document here: epiphofthelordc_2010.pdf

© 2010 Joan Stott - " The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year C