Prayer of Confession: Commandments

Here’s an act of confession inspired by the suggested scripture readings for Epiphany 5, Year A in the Revised Common Lectionary – especially Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Matthew 5:21-37. It was written by Rev. Mindi and posted on Rev-o-lution. 

Prayer of Brokenness/Confession

Almighty God,

we confess that we have taken Your commandments

and turned them into rules.

We have criticized those who have fallen short

and selfishly proclaimed ourselves righteous.

We have failed to understand the spirit of the commandments

and the Way that was shown by You to live,

loving God and loving our neighbors.

Forgive us for turning Your law into burdens

for others and ourselves,

instead of a Way to love and freedom in You.

In the name of Christ,

who has given us the Way and leads us on, we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

You are loved.

Love is the Way.

When you love God, you love others.

When you truly lay down your life for others,

you lay down your life for God.

Give yourself to God by serving others.

Know that in God’s love there is forgiveness,

healing, and reconciliation. Amen.

~ written by Rev. Mindi, and posted on Rev-o-lution. http://rev-o-lution.org/

Call to Worship: Deuteronomy 30: 15-20

Here’s a call to worship or invitation to the Table inspired by Deuteronomy 30:15-20.  It was written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

God has set before us life and death.
We long to choose life.
God has set before us blessings and curses.
We long to choose blessings.
So we gather this morning around the table–Christ’s table.
We gather to drink the cup of blessing; to eat the bread of life.
Let us share the meal together. Let us feast on the Word.
Let us worship God with joy!

~ written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith. http://spaciousfaith.com/tag/deuteronomy-30/

Prayer of Confession: Walking with God

Here’s a prayer of confession from Rev. Mindi’s Rev-o-lution website.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God,

You have set before us the path

but we have wandered on our own

to try to find our way.

Sometimes we are like toddlers

and we hear Your call and come back.

Other times, we are children testing boundaries,

ignoring Your call until fear finally makes us look back.

And still other times we are full of youthful rebellion,

demanding to be cut loose and set free,

not knowing how much we still need

to seek Your wisdom and guidance.

But most of all, too often we think we are adults

and have figured it all our and know our own way,

only to stumble and stray so far. 

Remind us, parental God,

that we are always Your children,

that we are never fully grown up in Your sight,

that we always have much to learn.

Help us to seek You every day,

to acknowledge that we need Your wisdom and guidance,

and help us to return to the path and walk with You.

In the name of Christ,

who is our companion on this journey of faith, we pray. Amen.

~ written by Rev Mindi, and posted on Rev-o-lution. http://rev-o-lution.org/

Prayer: 1 Corinthians 3

Here’s a prayer of commitment from Christine Jerrett, written after reading 1 Corinthians 3. It was posted on her blog, Christine Jerrett.

A prayer after pondering 1 Corinthians 3

Truth-telling Saviour,

You gather your people into one Body;

gathering us beyond the divisions we create

by our fears that it is all up to us

to make our lives count;

divisions we create in our anxiety

to make the future turn out right.

Crucified and risen Saviour,

You are among us,

offering us your truth that sets us free;

and your grace that shapes a good future for all;

and your love that fills our lives and lifts us up.

These gifts draw us ever deeper into

your creative presence;

these gifts that form us into a people

who carry your life-giving future in our world.

Open our eyes to their liberating truth.

Open our hearts to receive them.

By your Holy Spirit,

form in us a passion for your purposes —

a passion that overcomes our self-centredness;

a passion that makes us large in generosity.

Then, grant us your Spirit of wisdom,

that we may see the work you are doing

and may join in with glad and grateful hearts

and be the blessing you have summoned us to be.

We ask in the name of Jesus

whose death and resurrection

has made us people of hope.

~ written by Christine Jerrett and posted on Christine Jerrett. https://christinejerrett.wordpress.com/

Call to Worship, Opening Prayer: Psalm 119

Here’s a call to worship and opening invocation inspired by Psalm 119 and other suggested scripture readings for Proper 26 C.  It comes from the Worship Ways page of the United Church of Christ website.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 119)

O God, you are righteous

Transform us by your Word!

Your judgments are upright

Transform us by your Word!

Your precepts are unforgettable

Transform us by your Word!

Give us understanding and we will live

Re-form us, reconcile us,

Transform us by your Word!

Prayer of Invocation

O Still Speaking God,

throughout history and the wide world

you have gathered people around your Word

to instruct and inspire. 

We give thanks for all

who have received your vision

and shaped diverse and faithful communities

to follow in your Way.

Continue to open that vision to us,

that we may become transformed

by the renewing of your Word in our hearts.

Enable us to grow in love and understanding for each other .

Create in us, O God, clean hearts and minds;

Let us join with you in your suffering and your triumph.         

We desire to be your children and

we claim these blessings in your name.  Amen.

~ from Reformation and Reconciliation, written by LT Leticia Rouser. Posted on the Worship Ways page of the United Church of Christ website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/year-c/p/pentecost-ordinary-time-9.html

Prayer: Choose Life

Here’s a prayer of thanksgiving and petition inspired by Deuteronomy 30:19. It comes from the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website.

Prayer

(inspired by Deuteronomy 30:19)

'Choose life,

so that you and your descendants may live....' (Deut. 30:19)

God, Creator, 
for your glory shining forth in sky and sea, 
in the changing light on the hills, 
in the flight of birds, 
in the plants of the field 
for the gift of life in all its fullness, 
we thank you.

Jesus, Redeemer, 
for blessing children, 
healing the sick, 
raising up the lowly 
suffering the brokenness of the world in your own body 
that we might have fullness of life, 
we thank you.

Holy Spirit, Comforter, 
for breathing new hope and strength into our lives 
breaking down barriers 
drawing human beings together in love 
resisting all that diminishes fullness of life, 
we thank you.

Holy Trinity, 
in all that we do and say and are, 
may we always choose life, 
for ourselves, and for our neighbours. 
Amen.

~ posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Prayer: Choices

Here’s a prayer of petition written by Kenn Stright, Minister at the Presbyterian Church of Saint David in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Prayer

(drawing on 2 Corinthians 1:17,

James 5:12, Matthew 5:37)

Discerning God,

help me consider this day

how I live my life

and how I choose the direction I take.

Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards,

ready to say ‘Yes, yes’ and ‘No, no’ at the same time? (2 Cor. 1:17)

Discriminating God,

help me understand

how crucial are the words I speak to others

as I seek relationships in my life.

“Let your ‘Yes’ be your yes

and your ‘No,’ no,

or you will be condemned.” (James 5:12)

Disturbing God,

help me find clarity in my relationship with you,

with others, and maybe especially with myself.

Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No': 

anything more than this comes from the evil one.  (Matthew 5: 37)

~ written by Kenn Stright, Minister, Presbyterian Church of Saint David in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Praying the Sermon on the Mount

Here’s a prayer of petition and commitment inspired by Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5).  It was written by Jamie Arpin-Ricci in his book The Cost of Community.  (See below for links.)

Praying the Sermon on the Mount

(inspired by Matthew 5-7)

Lord and Creator,

let us embrace the costly blessings which you desire for us,

blessings that confound the wisdom and strength of this world.

Teach us to be your agents of preservation in a world touched by death,

and beacons of hope in a world shrouded in darkness.

Transform us into your image through the crucible of the cross,

writing your mandates upon our hearts, made pure by you perfect love.

Embolden us to be your ambassadors,

Living as representatives of your holy kingdom,

stirring in us your love for others,

especially for those who would seek to destroy us because of you.

Make us decrease so that you might increase,

as a watching world sees you, not us.

Daily we declare that your priorities are ours,

even before our own needs and desires.

Every moment we live, we live for your glory—

the glory of a loving Father and a just King.

Free us of any distraction, craving or anxiety

that would keep us from fully following you.

For we acknowledge that everything we could possibly need

is yours to give us.

Remind us of our sinful brokenness and your gift of grace

as we encounter brokenness in others.

You are the answer to our every question.

You are the treasure that we desperately seek,

and it is you who invite us into your salvation,

as prodigals returning to the Father’s embrace.

Keep us upon your path of righteousness and justice,

bearing the good fruit of your Spirit,

for it is on you, Lord Jesus, that all hope is built,

For all of creation, now and forever more. Amen

~ written by Jamie Arpin-Ricci, in The Cost of Community by Jamie Arpin Ricci.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005UXKB3S   Posted on Godspace. http://godspace-msa.com/2012/09/28/prayers-for-the-journey-48/

Confession: Following Other Paths

Here’s a prayer of confession inspired by the suggested scripture readings for Epiphany 5A.  It comes from the Ministry Matters website.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37)

Loving God,
you call us into community,
teach us your ways,
and bless us with abundant life.

Yet we turn aside to follow other paths:
we take the easy way out,
listening to the world’s call

rather than your call to commitment;
we quarrel with one another,

letting differences divide us;
we cherish our resentments,
shutting off our hearts

from forgiveness and reconciliation;
we cling to petty jealousies,

feeling we deserve more than we have.

Forgive us when we wander from your love.
Draw us into community with each other,
and feed us with the milk of your grace,
that we may grow in faithfulness
and work together in peace. Amen.

Words of Assurance

(inspired by Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9)

God is at work, nurturing our growth
and showing us the ways that lead to life.
God is at work, reconciling us to one another
and teaching us the paths of love.
God is at work, hearing our confessions,
forgiving our disobedience,
and blessing us in love.
Thanks be to God!

~ posted on the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/

Readers' Theatre: Matthew 5: 21-37

Here’s a readers’ theatre setting of Matthew 5: 21-37.  It is set for two voices.

Readers’ Theatre:

Matthew 5: 21-37

 One:    You have heard that our ancestors were told,

Two:    You must not murder.

If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.

One:    But I say, if you are even angry with someone,

you are subject to judgment!

If you call someone an idiot,

you are in danger of being brought before the court.

And if you curse someone, 

you are in danger of the fires of hell.

So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple

and you suddenly remember

that someone has something against you, 

leave your sacrifice there at the altar.

Go and be reconciled to that person.

Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

When you are on the way to court with your adversary,

settle your differences quickly.

Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge,

who will hand you over to an officer,

and you will be thrown into prison. 

And if that happens,

you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.

One:    You have heard the commandment that says,

Two:    You must not commit adultery.

One:     But I say,

anyone who even looks at a woman with lust

has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 

So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust,

gouge it out and throw it away.

It is better for you to lose one part of your body

than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin,

cut it off and throw it away.

It is better for you to lose one part of your body

than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

One:    You have heard the law that says,

Two:    A man can divorce his wife

by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.

One:     But I say that a man who divorces his wife,

unless she has been unfaithful,

causes her to commit adultery.

And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

One:    You have also heard that our ancestors were told,

Two:    You must not break your vows;

you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’

One:    But I say, do not make any vows!

Do not say,

Two:    By heaven!

One:    because heaven is God’s throne. 

And do not say,

Two:    By the earth!

One:    because the earth is his footstool.

And do not say,

Two:    By Jerusalem!

One:    for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 

Do not even say,

Two:    By my head!

One:    for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 

Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’

Anything beyond this is from the evil one.