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confession: we forget

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O God, every breath we take should be a reminder of your life giving Spirit! And yet, in the midst of our lives busy-ness, we often forget to give you praise  – or even to think of you at all. Be such a force in our lives that we cannot forget you. Shine through us, Holy One, that we might also show the world your grace and love. In your name we pray – Amen.

 
This was used in a service dedicated to the third great end of the church – Divine Worship. It would be useful in many other settings too.
 
Submitted by Rev. Lucus Keppel, Ancho Community & Corona United Presbyterian Churches, New Mexico

call to worship: praise you everyday

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We will exalt you, O God, and praise your name forever!
We praise you everyday – yes, we will praise you forever!

Great is the Holy One! God is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure the greatness of God!

Adonai is close to all who call out in truth.
God is filled with kindness, and helps those who call out for God’s mercy.

We who are gathered praise our Sovereign God!
May everyone on earth bless God’s name forever! Amen!

based on Psalm 145
submitted by Rev. Lucus Keppel, Ancho Community + Corona United Presbyterian Churches, New Mexico

awareness and reconciliation for All Saints’ Day

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Our lives are full of mistakes and errors – places where we follow self-generated idols instead of the One True God. We are not alone in these mistakes – all of those who have come before us also were plagued with temptation and sin. Let us come before God, just as generations of believers have done, and pray for God’s forgiveness and grace.

Beloved God, who was known to our mothers and fathers, and even to our spiritual forebears, have mercy on us. We do not always love as you would have us love. We do not always do as you would have us do. In our stubbornness, we turn from you when we should turn toward you. Hold us, dear One – comfort us when we mourn the passing of friends and family, and help us to know that they are rejoicing in your presence. We praise you for the grace you shower on us, constantly forgiving our errors, especially the ones that we don’t share with any but you. Hear now the silent fears and worries of our hearts.

A time of silence

Friends, hear the good news! Though thousands upon thousands of our ancestors did not follow God’s ways perfectly, we have hope in the one who did! Jesus, a man of a particular people in a particular time, taught through his words and deeds that God has already forgiven us. Thus, we and all who have come before us are rightly known as saints – the holy ones of God! Thanks be to God for God’s mercy, grace, and love! Amen!

Submitted by Rev. Lucus Keppel, Ancho Community & Corona United Presbyterian Churches, New Mexico

ctw: beginnings, middles, and ends

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Here, we worship God as one Church:
The Church Reformed and always Reforming.

Here, the Holy Spirit pours over us:
Reforming us into the Body of Christ.

Here, we return to our roots:
Seeking the beginnings, middles, and ends of our faith. Amen!

Submitted by Rev. Lucus Keppel, Ancho Community + Corona United Presbyterian Churches, New Mexico

confession and assurance: your story for our lives

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It is said that we can touch the hearts of others only by first submitting to God our own missteps and mistakes. Let us bow our hearts in prayer and pray together:

Holy God, you are the great scribe of the universe, who writes our stories and chooses our names. But we often turn from the story you have planned – yes, even from the name you have called us, from our true selves inside. Help us to unify and reunite in your plan for us. Help us learn from our wounds that we should rely on your story for our lives. Make clear to us your vision, that we might follow it every day of our lives. Help us now to hear your name for us as we struggle with our sins and offer them to you in silence.

A time of silence for reflection

Friends – hear the good news! God knows us and our lives even before we are aware of God’s presence. In Christ, God showed us that even one who is fully divine and fully human can struggle with doubt, and yet have faith. Yes, even Jesus prayed the same prayer multiple times – and showed us that we could do so too. Let us forgive one another as God has forgiven us, and remember that we are not alone in our struggles with God!

submitted by Rev. Lucus Keppel, Corona United & Ancho Community Presbyterian Churches, New Mexico