L:         Our Father

R:        Sounds a bit sexiest to me, what about our Mother?

L:         Our Father who art in heaven

R:        Well we could do with him down here, right enough, rather than up there

L:         Hallowed be thy name

R:        It’s not too hallowed around here.  To be honest, it’s mostly used as a swear word

L:         Thy kingdom come

R:        There’s a few people who would have something to say about that.  They like to protect their positions of power and authority round here.

L:         Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

R:        And how is that going to happen?  Your influence seems to be getting less rather than more these days.  You want to see some of the books they have written about you recently?

L:         Give us this day our daily bread

R:        There’s actually enough bread.  The problem is that most of it is controlled and eaten by the rich world, leaving many in the poor world to die of malnutrition.

L:         Forgive us our trespasses

R:        When you look at what we have done to the planet…  When you look at how easily we have settled for a comfortable life when half of the world’s population live on less than £1 a day, we could certainly do with some forgiveness

L:         As we forgive those who trespass against us

R:        I knew there’d be a catch. We’re not too hot on forgiving others around here.  Once you’ve blotted your copybook that’s pretty much you.  We can hold grudges for a mighty long time.

L:         Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

R:        That’s good, because we don’t deal with temptation very well.  We behave well as long as we’re not tempted by something or someone to behave badly.  So we need lots of help here.  It’s not so much that we decide to do really evil things, it’s more that we tend to keep our heads down and do nothing to stop evil happening.

L:         For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory

R:        The power is there to make a real change in the world.  The power of love to transform lives.  Help us to love unconditionally and be part of expanding the kingdom of God on earth.

L:         Amen.

R:        Let it be so