Generous God, you have provided for us in ways we cannot even imagine. As we return to you a portion of your many gifts, we give you thanks and praise. Bless these offerings, and multiply them into blessings for your people in this place and around the world. In the name of Jesus the Christ, who offered his very life, we pray. Amen.
Year A
illumination: make room for abundant life
As we come to your word this day, O God, make peace in our hearts so that we may truly hear you, and follow you, for it is in serving you that we find life abundant. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL
confession: easier
Call to Confession
If we say we have no sin, we deceive only ourselves, and we leave no room for God’s truth to dwell in us. When we confess our sin, we are able to experience the abundant mercy of God’s everlasting grace, right here and right now. Before God, with the people of God, let us confess to our brokenness. Let us pray.
Prayer of Confession
All: God, your will is for all creation to have abundant life. We confess that sometimes we do not understand your way, and often we prefer to walk our own way. We confess that sometimes we have received your good gift, then allowed that gift to become our god. We confess that it is easier to ask you to bless what we want to do, rather than to ask for the courage to do what you are blessing. Forgive our hard hearts and closed minds, our selfish ambition and cultural bondage. Free us to follow your way of justice, peace, and love.
~silence~
Gracious God,
silence every voice in us but your own, that we may be your faithful people. We pray in the name of the One who lived every moment in obedience to you, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. From before the beginning until long beyond our imagination, God’s love endures. Know that you are forgiven, loved and free. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL
CTW: in the midst of life
One: God calls in the midst of our busy lives,
All: with a soft whisper, a clear voice, a gentle nudge, a striking view.
One: God calls in the midst of our busy lives,
All: asking us to come and follow, to lay down our nets and pick up the cross.
One: God calls in the midst of our busy lives,
All: giving everything and asking for everything.
One: God calls in the midst of our busy lives,
All: and so we come.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL
confession: You, O Lord…
You, O Lord, are our strong tower, our refuge and help in every trouble. Forgive us when we hide away from the challenges of following your call, using your word to build walls that insulate us from your world.
You, O Lord, are everywhere present. Forgive us when we want you to walk alongside us, when we ought to ask for the grace to walk alongside you wherever you are going.
You, O Lord, are the one who hears and answers our cries. Forgive us when our prayer is only self-serving, asking your stamp of approval or your help for our desires, and not for your glory.
You, O Lord, are our counselor and comforter. Forgive us when we seek only comfort, ignoring what we have done wrong and refusing to be confronted or challenged.
You, O Lord, are the one who calls us to come and follow. Forgive our blindness to your people in need, our deafness to your creation groaning for relief, our hearts hardened against the new thing you are doing. Teach us to pray, teach us to listen, teach us to serve, teach us to follow you wherever you are going.
~silence~
One: Help us, O God,
All: to know you so well that we cannot help but love you, and to love you so much we cannot help but serve you, sharing your good news in every place, for it is in doing your will that we find perfect freedom. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, The Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL.
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