Here’s
a prayer of confession inspired by the suggested scripture readings for Proper
9 C (the 7th Sunday after Pentecost). It was written by Rev. Heather A. Moody.
Prayer of Confession
(inspired by Luke
10:1-20, Galatians 6:1-16, and 2 Kings 5:1-14)
O
God, we know that Jesus sent out his disciples
without
purse, luggage, or sandals.
All
too often, we find ourselves clinging to possessions we don’t need,
looking
for safety by avoiding risk,
and
bearing heavy burdens that slow us down.
Forgive
us for our reluctance to travel lightly and heal us of our pain and guilt.
Forgive us and heal
us, O God.
Holy
One, the Apostle Paul encouraged the Galatians not to grow weary,
but
to use every opportunity to work for the good of all.
And
yet, hectic schedules, competing demands, cynicism, and doubt
erode
our commitment and leave us feeling burned out.
Forgive
us for any hollow excuses we are tempted to make
and
heal us of our exhaustion.
Forgive us and heal
us, O God.
O
God, we confess that, like the warrior Naaman,
we
sometimes think you only perform great complicated acts
in
flashy and dramatic ways.
We
then fail to see how you are at work
in
the simple tasks and ordinary experiences of everyday life.
Forgive
us for our misunderstanding and heal us of our sightlessness.
Forgive us and heal
us, O God.
Silent Prayer
Assurance of Pardon
There
is no pain that God cannot heal.
There
is no wrong that God cannot forgive.
Come,
immerse yourselves in the healing waters of God’s forgiveness.
Come
and be restored. Let God make you whole.
Thanks be to
God! Amen.
~
from A Harvest of Joy, Healing, and Peace: Service Prayers for the 7th Sunday
after Pentecost was written
by Rev. Heather A. Moody. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/
