Here’s a prayer of confession for the fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Year B).
Prayer of Confession
(inspired by 1 Samuel 17:32-49)
O God, sometimes we are like David, and sometimes Goliath:
forgive us for our two-sided nature.
We face the powerful with righteous anger,
but cling to any sense of power that we attain.
We are grateful when grace is extended to us,
yet remain absent-minded of this when others have wronged us.
We treat our own as family, yet ignore sisters and brothers
whom we see only from a distance.
As people of paradox, we long for oneness with ourselves and others,
with Christ and creation,
so that justice and love may flow freely.
Assurance of Pardon
(inspired by Mark 4:35-41)
With Christ as the uniting element,
God’s grace washes upon the turbulent shores of our lives;
and we are forgiven to begin again
to live at peace with ourselves and others,
with Christ and creation,
allowing justice and love to flow freely through our lives.
Let’s offer each other a sign of Christ’s peace.
— written by Rev. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, and posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/
