Open your good news to us, O God…and open us to your good news, that we may find ourselves in your abundant life. Speak, Lord, and help us to listen. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson
Show Me Your Ways
Confession: conditional faith
Voice 1: Show us a sign!
Voice 2: Make us understand!
Voice 3: If you can explain, we will believe!
All: We confess, Holy One, that often our faith is conditional. We trust you when we can see where you are going, and we believe your word when it makes sense with what we already know. The rest of the time…our voices can often be heard in the midst of the crowd demanding that you meet our expectations. Forgive us. Help us to trust where we have not seen. Teach us your way, foolish step by foolish step, until we find ourselves living your wisdom. Amen
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson
Dedication: learning foolishness
Generous God, you have chosen to reveal yourself to us in ways this world considers foolish…and you call us to join you. As we learn generosity in the midst of a world that teaches self-sufficiency, bless our gifts that they may be a blessing to others. As we learn trust in the midst of a world that teaches individualism, bless our gifts that they may lead us into community. As we learn sacrifice in the midst of a world that teaches greed, bless our gifts that they may remind us of all you have given to us. We dedicate these, our gifts of treasure and talent, to the foolishness of your glory. Amen.
Confession: we don’t understand grace
Your generous creativity is beyond all our imagining, O God! You breathe the breath of life into us, your Spirit flows free, bringing new life in every place, your grace falls like rain on all creation. And yet we confess that often we would prefer a system of earning our way into your favour. We understand transactions and fairness, we don’t understand grace. We want to be able to say we deserve your love and forgiveness, to be proud of our accomplishments in following your call. But you insist there is nothing to be earned, nothing to be bought, nothing to be proud of. Instead you call us your accomplishment, you create and re-create us in your image, preparing for us a way of life that we are not sure how to follow. Forgive us, generous God, for thinking your ways are like our ways. Open our hearts to know the truth of your grace, and to live in your redeemed creation. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson
CTW: we want to see Jesus
One: From near and far, long-serving and first-timers, we enter this house together:
All: We want to see Jesus!
One: Share the good news, all are welcome in this place.
All: We come, drawn by grace and challenge, ready to follow in faith.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson
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