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Easter Confession

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Call to Reconciliation
Very early in the morning, God created all that is
good and beautiful.  Very early in the morning,
a mother placed her newborn in a manger.  Very
early in the morning, the good news was shared
with frightened friends, that Jesus was risen and
alive in our midst.  Let us confess the fears and
the amazement we bring this morning . . .

Unison Prayer of Confession
On this morning of hallelujahs, we must confess how
human we are, Emptier of tombs.  We haven’t done
any great evil, but we have failed to do good when
we had the chance.  We have not intentionally hurt
any one, nor have we offered healing to the broken.
We easily accept the witness of the angel in the tomb,
but find it difficult to share this good news with our
friends and neighbors.
Bring us new life, Dazzling God.  Where we are tired
and stressed, give us the energy to serve your creation;
transform our hardened hearts into fountains of grace;
forgive us of all the damage we have done, and fill us
with the joy of your Spirit.  In the name of Jesus Christ,
who gives us new life, we pray.

Silent Prayers may be offered.

Assurance of Pardon:
L:    God, our Creator, gives us new life;
Christ, our Redeemer, prepares a Table for us;
Holy Spirit, our Joy, calls us to service.
This is the good news: the tomb is empty, sin
is powerless, death is defeated forever.
P:    On this very first day, and every day, we walk
as God’s people, forgiven and made whole.
Thanks be to God.  Amen.

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.

CTW: this is the day

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L:    This is the day:
P:    when tears are wiped away;
shattered hearts are mended;
fears are replaced with joy.
L:    This is the day the Lord:
P:    rolls away the stone of fear;
throw’s off death’s clothes;
goes ahead of us into God’s future.
L:    This is the day the Lord has made:
P:    death has no fear for us;
sin has lost it’s power over us;
God opens the tombs of our hearts
to fill us with life.
L:    This is the day  –  Easter Day!
P:    Christ is Risen! Hallelujah!

 

Sbumitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.

Palm Sunday Great Prayer

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Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
Morning by morning,
creation’s voices join in praising you,
God of every goodness.
The forests form a festal procession,
the heavens reflect your glory’s light.
Though we were formed by you,
we looked around at everything
sin and death had to offer,
and followed them through the world,
thinking they could protect us.
You gave prophets
the tongues of teachers,
to comfort our weariness
and teach us the way back to you,
but we turned our back on them.
When judgment did not
lead to redemption,
you sent Jesus to reach out in love,
to bring us home to you.

So with those who spread cloaks before you,
and those who are sustained by your love,
we join our voices, singing,

P:    Holy, holy, holy, God of enduring love.
From every part of creation come glad songs.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is the One who comes in humility and hope.
Hosanna in the highest.

Holy are you, Sustainer of the weary,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Love become human.
He emptied himself of glory,
to be filled with our broken hopes and hearts.
He chose the path of suffering love,
so that we could run through
the streets of the kingdom
waving branches of joy.
He walked the sin-cold stones
into the tomb which could not hold him,
so we could join our voices together,
‘Hosanna!  Hosanna!  He is risen!”

As we journey through Jerusalem and beyond,
as we struggle with death, loss, and grief
we would ponder that mystery we call faith:

P:    In trust, Christ died.
In joy, Christ was raised to new life.
in hope, Christ will come again.

Here at the Table graced
with creation’s gifts,
we discover the world you intend.
Here where you love enlivens
the bread and the cup
we are given more than enough
of everything we need.
Sharing deeply in the Spirit,
we can give hope its wings,
as it carries us to serve
the broken all around us.
Strengthened by the grace
with which you feed us,
we can join together
to sustain the weary of the world.

And when the gates of joy
have been opened to us,
we will spend moment by moment,
every knee in creation bending,
singing our praises to you,
God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.

palm sunday’s call to reconciliation

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Call to confession:

When the parade is over, do we pick up our lives,
brush them off, and live in the old way?  Do we toss
our palm branches aside, so we can grasp the seductions
of the world?  As we begin the journey through the
holiest of weeks, let us speak the truth, as we confess
to our God, praying together,

(Prayer of Confession)

Assurance of Pardon
L:    Laying aside judgment, God offers us redemption;
setting aside anger, God embraces us with love;
letting go of grief, God pours living water upon us.
This is the good news, my friends:
God’s steadfast love endures forever.
P:    Hosanna! Hosanna!
Blessed is the One who brings us
the kingdom of God!  Amen.

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.

prayer: palm branches

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Steadfast Love:
you hand us the palm branches,
so we can wave them in hope;
you steady us in the days
when pain is stuck
to the bottom of our lives,
when fear is our constant companion.
We empty ourselves
so you might fill us with joy.

Humble Healer:
When our mouths turn numb
and we cannot speak our dreams,
you tenderly caress our cheeks,
leaning over to hear our faltering words.
When our arms have grown weak
from the burdens we carry,
you take them from us,
and strengthen us with your mercy.
We empty ourselves
so you might fill us with grace.

Voice of Wisdom:
when death hovers so close
we can feel it’s cold breath,
you come to us,
the warm breath of resurrection
pushing aside our fears.
When we hesitate to walk into
the unknown stretching before us,
you tightly clasp our hands
and teach us the first step.
We empty ourselves
so you might fill us with peace.

God in Community, Holy in One,
we open our hearts to you,
as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.