Let the fire of your Spirit shed light on your word, O God. As we open these pages, may we find a breath of fresh air, a word for our hearts, a light for our path. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL
Word
confession: the word of the lord is rare?
Speaking God, it often seems as if the word of the Lord is rare in our days. We confess that we, your servants, may not be listening. We prefer to do what we want, labeling our desires with your name and calling them blessed. We disregard your voice when it comes from unpleasant quarters or through people with whom we disagree. We insist that there is no other way. We shut out and shut down, rather than waiting to hear your word. We confess our minds and hearts are often closed, our ears ringing with our own voices. Silence in us every voice but your own, and make yourself heard in this place again.
~silence~
Forgive us, O God.
Speak again into our confusion, our brokenness, our darkness, and lead us in your way of grace and truth. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL.
illumination: reveal
Reveal your presence to us this day,
O God of light, love, and glory.
As you did to your servants at the foot of the mountain,
send your Spirit to show us your story.
May the brilliance of your face
illuminate this place
as we dare to proclaim your Word
and may we, your people, be never unable
to tell all of that we have heard.
Submitted by Stephen Fearing.
confession: the gift of the Word
God of the ages,
you gift us with your Word,
written in the Bible and lived out in Jesus Christ.
Yet we ignore this gift.
We pretend that it doesn’t make sense in our world.
We read it without trusting you to open it to our understanding.
We act as if your word is always the same,
when it is in fact you who does not change.
Forgive us, O God.
Help us to hear your eternal Word anew in our hearts and our lives,
and show us how to live it out in our world, now and always.
Inspired by a reading of Nehemiah 8:1-10.
Submitted by Rev. Andy James, First Presbyterian Church, Whitestone, New York.
illumination: and yet new
We give you thanks, O God, for your word, spoken long ago and yet new every day. Give us again the gift of hearing your voice through these words—may they be a conduit for your Spirit to enter our lives and take root, growing and giving glory to you. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL.
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