Leader: God’s call rings out through the world, God’s message to us.
People: God calls us to come back, to fast and weep, and ask for forgiveness.
Leader: We need to change our entire lives, what is inside of us, not just outside.
People: For our God is loving and compassionate.
Leader: We enter this season of Preparation by returning to the LORD.
All: Together, let us sound the trumpet and worship God!
submitted by Rev. Will Ryan, First Christian Church Burlington IA
forgiveness
Confession/Pardon – Debts
Holy and Beloved God, we pray to you often, asking you to “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” – and then, in the next breath, we turn away from you and shake down our friends and families. Bring justice through the world, holy God, even though we may turn aside. Help us learn from our wounds – and the wounds we have inflicted on others – to turn away from violence both physical and fiscal. Make clear to us your vision, so that we can work together for the benefit of all. Amen.
Friends, hear the good news! God has already forgiven our debts, and repaid our sin.
God’s Spirit fills us with love and peace, and leads us to heal instead of hurt.
Therefore, let us forgive one another as God has forgiven us!
Amen!
Submitted by Rev. Lucus Levy Keppel, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bixby, OK
declaration of grace: people on the way
Thanks to Teri’s CTW (people on the way) for the thematic inspiration 🙂
Listen to the good news!
We are people on the way…
We are people whom God refuses to abandon
when we choose the destructive way in our moments of weakness.
We are people on the way to lives of faith, hope, and love…
Lives of justice, mercy, and humbleness.
We are people on the way…
So let’s sing and give thanks to God!
call to confession / declaration of forgiveness: mind over matter
submitted by Rev. Scott Cervas, Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church, based on the epistle reading, Romans 7:15-25a.
We know what is good,
but we often do what is not.
So please join me in the prayer of confession…
(insert prayer of confession here)
Listen to the good news!
Though we know what is good,
and often do what is not,
God frees us from our guilt
so that we might be renewed
to accept our potential as part of God’s very good creation.
So let’s sing and give thanks to God!
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