Adoration

Gracious God, your patient love prepared the path to faith, created, called and connected our lives, led us through ways and words and works of devotion to that surprising simplicity: the discovery of love and of being in love.

For the grace that has searched for and found us, we praise you, gentle God.

And then with hearts warmed and wakened you stirred in us a share in your desire to speak for you, and think and work, in faith set free from anxious fears, knowing at last the depth of your love.

For the grace that has touched us and healed us, we praise you, generous God.

Now day by day you open up to us horizons of hope and pathways of faith, assurance of love as gift and demand with friends to travel beside us, your presence and promise to guide us.

For the grace that nurtures and holds us, we praise you, living God.

Before faith, by faith and there at faith’s end; from everlasting to everlasting, you are God: beside, within and beyond us; love without limit making perfect in love. ‘The best of all is: God is with us.’

For the grace that transforms and unites us, we praise and adore you, holy God.

Amen.

Responsive prayer

When I've only just been born

When I've grown a little older