Here’s a beautiful prayer of approach and confession for the third Sunday after Epiphany (January 22, 2012). It was written by Moira Laidlaw, and posted on her Liturgies Online website.
Prayer of Approach and Confession
(based on Psalm 62: 5-12, Jonah 3, Mark 1:14-20)
The words of the psalm describe you, O God, as hope, as salvation, as shelter. We who hear these healing words are invited to put all our confidence in you, to pour out our hearts to you, knowing that you hear.
Hear us now, O God, as we gather to worship and to praise you.
Forgive us when we listen to the voices which tell us to put our trust in whatever institution can increase our wealth; in whatever breakfast food can expand our brainpower, in whatever mode of transport can get us anywhere faster, cheaper, more comfortably. Renew our trust in you and help us to use this time to deepen our relationship with you and to re-align our priorities with yours.
Hear us now, Lord Jesus Christ, as we gather to worship and to praise you.
Forgive us when we are reluctant disciples, and renew our desire to follow you even if, like those first disciples, it means having the direction of our lives completely changed.
Forgive us when we forget that we do not have to do everything in our own power when challenged to take risks of faith.
Holy Spirit, breathe new life into us now, as we can only offer true worship and provide faithful discipleship when we are empowered by you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen
Assurance of Pardon (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)
Hear the good news: If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, with whom we are reconciled through Christ.
Thanks be to God!
Thanks be to God!
— written by Moira Laidlaw, on Liturgies Online. Visit that site for other wonderful lectionary-based worship resources.
For more worship resources for the Epiphany season, click on Epiphany, or Epiphany 1 B, 2 B, etc. in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.
For more prayer resources on this blog, see the Scriptural Prayer Index at the upper right.
