prepared by Deacon Nigel Perrott – 2nd November 2025
Opening Prayer
Gracious God,
You are the Shepherd who never gives up,
the One who notices when we wander,
who searches with love,
and who lifts us with joy.
We adore you for your kindness—
not cold or calculating,
but warm, persistent, and full of grace.
We praise you for your joy—
not reserved for the righteous,
but overflowing when the lost are found,
when the broken are healed,
when the lonely are embraced.
You are the God who sings over us,
who carries us home,
who throws a celebration
for each soul restored.
We worship you not just for your power,
but for your tenderness.
Not just for your wisdom,
but for your welcome.
Receive our praise,
as we gather in your name,
grateful to be known,
glad to be found,
and ready to rejoice with you.
Amen.
STF 548- Blessed Assurance
Frances Jane van Alstyne, (Fanny Crosby) (1820–1915) – Public Domain
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God,
We confess that we wander.
We lose our way in distraction, pride, and fear.
We forget your voice,
and sometimes we choose paths that lead us far from you.
We confess that we grumble—
when grace is given to others,
when joy is shared with those we think don’t deserve it.
We forget that we too have been carried home
on your shoulders of mercy.
Forgive us, Lord,
for the times we’ve turned away,
for the times we’ve failed to notice who’s missing,
and for the times we’ve withheld welcome.
Call us back to your heart.
Lift us with your love.
Teach us to rejoice in every return,
to celebrate every act of grace,
and to live as people who know what it means to be found.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name:
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done;
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us thus day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever,
Amen.
Please Read: Luke 15:1-7
“Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?”
There was once a time when I would be out on the streets of Swindon every Friday and Saturday night. I would be out with the nighttime revellers as they staggered from one pub or club to another. As the young girls staggered around in their high heels, and the guys sported their new smart shirts, I would be wrapped up in a big blue coat, scarf, gloves and baseball cap. The words STREET PASTOR emblazoned on my back. There had been a time when this uniformed presence on the streets had been viewed with ridicule and suspicion. Overtime the Street Pastors became, and still are, viewed with respect and love. A team of four Christians, there to assist when things may go wrong or just a listening ear to someone feeling alone in those busy streets at night. A backpack containing the famous flip flops for those girls who could walk no longer in those heels, a bottle of water and of course some lollipops to make friends.
On wintery nights it could mean that interactions were few as people rushed to get out of the cold. There were nights when we would think, “What is the point?” Yet, in all the years I and others, undertook this ministry, there was never a night when our presence was not needed. It would always be one conversation, or one emergency that would make a difference on the night. We were never there for the 99 revellers, no, we were there for the one.
As we start to read this short passage, something comes to light straight away. Jesus was surrounded by people on the margins, those considered to be sinners. The religious people, as usual, were not happy. They didn’t like how inclusive Jesus was. In the words of Jesus, we get to reframe how we see God and how he sees us. This is an incredibly personal thing for those who are lost, lonely or afraid. It is not about the group, it is about the single person, the one.
The Shepherd doesn’t grumble or scolds the lost sheep; it was a joyful pursuit. It tells me that God’s heart leaps, not just when we are good, but when we are found after being lost.
That sheep would have been vulnerable, confused and unaware of the danger around it. So many people in our communities are lost and confused, just one kind word and a listening ear can make the difference. The shepherd wasn’t angry or scolding, in the same way, those that get lost or end up in difficult places do not need judgement, just love.
Who might you sit next to on the bus or train, or may be in the queue at the supermarket? You could be the shepherd that brings them home.
Hymn -STF 416- There’s a wildness in God’s Mercy
1There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
like the wideness of the sea;
there’s a kindness in his justice
which is more than liberty.
2 There is plentiful redemption
in the blood that has been shed;
there is joy for all the members
in the sorrows of the Head.
3 There is grace enough for thousands
of new worlds as great as this;
there is room for fresh creations
in that upper home of bliss.
4 For the love of God is broader
than the measures of the mind;
and the heart of the Eternal
is most wonderfully kind.
5 But we make his love too narrow
by false limits of our own;
and we magnify his strictness
with a zeal he will not own.
6. If our love were but more simple
we should take him at his word;
and our lives would be illumined
by the presence of our Lord.
Frederick William Faber (1814–1863)
Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 416
Prayer
Loving God,
You are the Shepherd who searches for the one,
who notices when someone is missing,
and who rejoices when the lost are found.
We come to you now with prayers for your world,
trusting in your compassion and care.
We pray for those who feel lost: in grief, in confusion, in loneliness or fear:
May they know your presence beside them,
your arms ready to lift them,
your joy waiting to welcome them home.
We pray for those who search: parents, carers, teachers, chaplains, friends—
who long to help others find their way:
Give them patience, wisdom, and hope
as they walk alongside those in need.
We pray for our communities : especially those we haven’t seen in a while,
those who feel forgotten or unsure if they belong:
Help us notice, reach out, and celebrate
each person as precious in your sight.
We pray for our church: that we may reflect your heart,
not grumbling at grace, but rejoicing in it.
Make us bold in welcome, joyful in forgiveness,
and generous in love.
We pray for our world: where conflict, injustice, and division
leave many feeling abandoned:
Bring peace, healing, and restoration.
Guide leaders with compassion,
and stir us all to seek the common good.
We offer these prayers in the name of Jesus,
who told stories of sheep and shepherds,
and who still calls each of us by name.
Amen
