Psalm 130 and prayer (29/3/2020)

So our first reading today is Psalm 130 - the lectionary reading for 29th March. It is Psalm of Longing and Looking for the Lord, known as a song of the ascents or a song of the steps. It is written from the depths - the depths of trouble and affliction.  We can trust in his mercy and great love to forgive us because if he didn’t we would fall.  And we come with expectant trust, a hopeful waiting for the Lord, and they watch for him, as we watch for the sunrise. And the singer believes that God will honour his covenant with his people.  He is faithful.  

Psalm 130 

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;

2 

    Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears be attentive

    to my cry for mercy.

3 

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,

    Lord, who could stand?

4 

But with you there is forgiveness,

    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

5 

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,

    and in his word I put my hope.

6 

I wait for the Lord

    more than watchmen wait for the morning,

    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 

Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

    for with the Lord is unfailing love

    and with him is full redemption.

8 

He himself will redeem Israel

    from all their sins.

Let us pray

Loving God, full of wisdom and truth, 

just and full of mercy, 

if you kept track of our sins, 

the words of frustration and temper that have hurt others, 

the selfish motives that have curtailed our love, compassion and generosity, 

the despair that has overwhelmed and the fear that has roosted in our hearts and heads, 

what chance would we have to ever come into your presence?

Loving God, full of compassion and grace, 

look upon us, and see us through the eyes of your Son Jesus

who gave his all that we might be forgiven and welcomed. 

Forgive us with your unfailing love, with that forgiveness that casts our sin away, as far as the east is from the west, and allows us to begin again. 

Lord, help us believe that our sins are forgiven and that we may come into your holy presence, in worship and praise, forgiven and restored. Praise be. 

Loving God, of the past, the present and the future, 

as we gather together in worship, knowing that our prayers are heard, 

our unity with our brothers and sisters around the world joining us together across time and space is sure, be pleased to be with us in our homes and our workplaces.  

And so we bring our prayer together, with the words that Jesus taught us as we share in the family prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. 
Now and for ever. Amen.