Here’s a prayer of approach and confession from the Starters for Sunday website. It was written by Tom Gordon.
Prayer of Approach, Adoration and Confession
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hidden, we rejoice to be as one in your great human family on earth and in heaven, invited by you into your holy presence, to worship and adore you, as the rainbow people of God.
We approach you, Holy God, the God who keeps the mystery of divinity but who shows us though your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, what it is to be divinely human;
We adore you, Creator God, who has made each of us according to your plan; we come from far and wide, with ease and at great cost, with hope and concern to apply ourselves to heed your call.
We draw near to you, understanding God; help us not to covet yesterday but to dream of a new tomorrow, so that all might be welcome in your community of faith; so that the whole world may know your love.
We look upon you, tender God, the God we keeps loving us despite our failures; we bow our hearts and minds in humility, trusting in your forgiveness, leaning on your promise of welcome.
We need you, loving God, now more than ever; lover of all, we come to you, conscious of our need of you and one another; with a wish to play our part in your mission and yet recognizing our own frailties. We ask that by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
— written by Tom Gordon, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/ Visit that website for other excellent lectionary-based worship resources.
