Here’s a prayer of confession suitable for Thanksgiving, Harvest celebrations, or a service focusing on creation care. It was written by Janet Orchard.
Forgive us, God,
that we have taken your creation for granted.
You have given us
the run of the land,
the pick of the crop
and we have squandered these resources;
distributed these unfairly,
vandalised their beauty,
violated their purity.
Forgive us, God,
that we have taken your kingdom for granted.
You have given us
the seeds of faith,
the fruits of the spirit,
and we have misused these resources;
displayed them rarely,
bestowed them grudgingly,
ignored them blithely.
Thank you, God,
that you are stronger than our destructiveness
and greater than our meanness,
that you give us a fresh start, a second chance.
Overwhelm us with the power of your resurrected love.
Compel us with the challenge you issue for change.
Lead us in the conquest of our own limits and restrictions.
Drive us towards a new life of peace, justice and integrity.
Amen.
—written by Janet Orchard, and posted the Methodist Relief and Development website.
For more creative worship resources for Thanksgiving Sunday or Harvest celebrations, click on Thanksgiving Sunday in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page, or see this Thanksgiving Day Resources index.
For other resources related to confession on this blog, click on Confession or words of assurance in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page, or see this Confession & Assurance index.
