Prayer: Defying Expectation

We are sinners…

            we are not only sinners
We are weak…

            we are not only weak
We fail…

            we are not always failures
We have destroyed…

            also we have loved

You, God, do not limit us

to the stories by which the world knows us

You see much more in us

than the labels we give ourselves

Give us courage to defy all expectations –

especially our own –

and in your love

become all of who we are.

~ written by Cheryl Lawrie and posted on [hold this space].  http://holdthisspace.org.au/

Prayer to a Maternal God

Here’s a pastoral prayer which celebrates feminine images for God. It was written by Carol Penner and posted on Leading in Worship.

Prayer

Maternal God
you conceive us
give birth to us
nurse us
smile at us every day
protect us
feed us
give us words to say
show us how to walk
cheer for us in our successes
wipe our tears when we fail
encourage us
dream big for us
and love us for who we are.

Thank you that you
do not give up on us
when we
don’t call home
forget to visit
disappoint you
neglect what you’ve done for us
and think we did it by ourselves.

Open our eyes
to see those
who need the embrace
of your mothering love
who need
someone to be their champion,
someone to always give
the cup of cold water
and a second mile.

Help us this week
to take your love to heart
and embody it
like Jesus
deeply and tenderly.
Amen

~ written by Carol Penner, and posted on Leading in Worship.  http://carolpenner.typepad.com/leadinginworship/

Confession: Light of the World

Here’s a prayer of confession from the Presbyterian Church in Canada website.

Prayer of Confession

God of glory,

you sent Jesus among us as the light of the world,

to reveal your love for all people.

We confess that our sin and pride hide the brightness of your light.

We turn away from the poor;

we ignore cries for justice;

we do not strive for peace.

Forgive us, God.  In your mercy, cleanse us of our sin,

and baptize us once again with your Spirit,

so that, as forgiven and renewed people,

we may reflect the love and life of Jesus Christ

into our world.

Assurance of Pardon

(inspired by Colossians 3:1)

Our God is a God of grace and mercy and love;

know that our sins have been forgiven.

May we be strengthened in all goodness.

Since we have been raised with Christ,

let us seek the things that are above,

where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Thanks be to God; amen.

~ posted on the Presbyterian Church in Canada website. http://presbyterian.ca/worship/

Call to Worship for Proper 13C

Here’s a call to worship inspired by the suggested scripture texts for Proper 13, Year C – especially Colossians 3 and Psalm 107. It was written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 107 and Colossians 3:1-11)

If you wish to be raised up with Christ,

then seek the high ground where Christ is found.

O give thanks to God who is so good,

whose love goes on forever!

Let the redeemed all say so together,

Those who have been liberated

and gathered in from many lands.

From the east and from the west,

from the north and from the south,

We seek the high ground where Christ is found.

O give thanks to God who is so good,

whose love goes on forever!

Let us worship our wonderful God.

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/DocC/C47sun18.htm

Litany of Confession & Assurance: Beatitudes

Here’s a litany of confession and assurance inspired by the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-22).  It was written by Katherine Hawker.

Beatitudes Litany

(inspired by Matthew 5:3-12, Luke 6:20-22)

Blessed are we when we let go of possessions

for the kingdom of God unfolds in open places.

Woe to us when we gather into barns

for soon this life will be over.

Blessed are we who know the ache of hunger

for the empty places in body and soul are the fertile soil for new growth.

Woe to us who fill our lives to capacity

for we fail to recognize what is missing.

Blessed are we who know sorrow

for the ache of love lost is witness to the seed planted.

Woe to us who have yet to know the pain of grief

for the fullness of love is woven with sorrow.

Blessed are we who know scorn

for the rejection of humans keeps us mindful of that beyond.

Woe to us who depend on the approval of others

for to dance with Spirit appears foolish.

Blessed are we who live in the harmony of life in the Spirit,

For we will recognize abundance. Amen.

~ written by Katherine Hawker (2004), and posted on Liturgy Outside. http://liturgyoutside.net/beatitudes.pdf

Prayer Litany: Psalm 51

Here’s a litany of confession and commitment inspired by Psalm 51.  It was written by Clarence Brown.

Prayer Litany

(inspired by Psalm 51)

Have mercy upon us, O Lord,

according to your steadfast love and abundant mercy.

Let our response to your love

be the exercise of heartfelt compassion for the poor,

the oppressed, the downtrodden and vulnerable.

Create in us clean hearts, and renew in us upright spirits.

Let our renewed vision see the places where you beckon;

let our clean hearts be broken for the things that cause you pain.

Let us be present with you in healing and deliverance,

and let us be instruments of your peace.

Do not cast us away from your presence,

and do not take your Holy Spirit from us.

Instead supply us with the boldness that your Holy Spirit supplies,

that we might be strength for the weak and a voice for the silenced.

Empower us with the sureness of your presence

that as we walk in your way

we might initiate glorious transformation of this world

through our justified miraculous expectations.

~ written by Clarence Brown, UMVIM Brazil 2007  http://www.roanokeumc.org/clientimages/45038/litanies.pdf

Prayer of Confession: Isaiah 1

Here’s a prayer of confession inspired by Isaiah 1.  It comes from the Ministry Matters website.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Isaiah 1)

O God,
your call for justice is so clear
that we are amazed at how easily
we fail to hear you
over the din of daily life.
We want to cease to do evil.
We want to learn to do good.
Yet, we rarely do all we can
to rescue, defend, and plead
for those in need.

As you have sought us out,
so we seek your pardon.
Grant us courage, we pray,
as persons, as communities, and as nations,
to bring about the justice you desire. Amen.

~ from the Worship Elements page of the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/

Confession: Isaiah 1

Here’s a prayer of confession from The Presbyterian Church in Canada website.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Isaiah 1)

God of truth,

we know we fall far short of your expectations for us –

sometimes we fail even our own self-expectations. 

We wander away from you in our daily routines;

we ignore your commands

and in apathy turn our backs on those who are suffering. 

Forgive our short-sighted vision,

our constant focus on ourselves,

and our discounting of future generations in our decision-making. 

Help us to deepen our connections with you

through prayer, praise and scripture,

and with others through affirming, supportive relationships. 

We pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

the source of all grace, Amen.

~ posted on The Presbyterian Church in Canada website. http://presbyterian.ca/worship/

Confession: Proper 13 C

Here’s a prayer of confession inspired by the suggested scripture readings for Proper 13C. It was written by Bruce Prewer.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Psalm 107: 1-9, Colossians 3: 1-11, Luke 12: 13-21)

God is ready to satisfy those who thirst for goodness,

and those who are hungry for grace, will be filled with good things.

Let us in prayer make our confession..

If we were self-sufficient, and had all the answers,

we would not be here, all-wise God.

If our achievements matched our aims

and if our deeds perfectly reflected our holist vows,

we would not be so spiritually hungry, God of truth and grace.

If we had cared for our neighbours with the love of Jesus Christ,

and cherished our loved ones without selfishness or impatience,

we would not be seeking your mercy, redeeming God.

We bring to you our inept and evil ways,

and rest the troublesome load of frustration, disappointment,

regret and guilt in your hands.

Please wash the grime and infection from our wounds,

and anoint us with the salve of forgiveness.  

Take us gently by the chin and lift up our faces

so that we can look up into the face of Christ Jesus

without shame or fear.

With him let us recover our authentic humanity

and face all coming challenges with his quiet strength and optimism.

In his name we so pray.

Amen!

Words of Forgiveness

Family of God,

lift up your spirits with thanksgiving to God

whose nature is always to have mercy.

All who have come clean and sought forgiveness

shall never need to revisit old shame again.

The untarnished future is God’s

and it is now offered to you with open hands.

You are forgiven, all things have become new!

Through Christ Jesus our Saviour!

O give thanks to God who is so good,

whose love goes on forever!

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/DocC/C47sun18.htm

Children's Feature: Rich Young Fool

Rev. Anne Paton suggests this idea for a children’s feature for Luke 12: 13-21, where Jesus speaks to the rich young fool. 

Children’s Talk

(inspired by Luke 12: 13-21)

Find an [adult] volunteer who likes chewing gum or bubble gum. Bring them out and give them a piece of gum to chew. While they are chewing tell the story of the man who came to Jesus asking about his inheritance, then go into the parable. While doing this, keep giving the volunteer more and more gum to chew until they become uncomfortable, the teaching point being that if we store up too much it eventually chokes us.

~ written by Rev Anne Paton, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/15620/4_august_2013.pdf

Psalm 107 Litany

Here’s a responsive litany inspired by Psalm 107.  It comes from Kristin Holbrook.

Litany

(inspired by Psalm 107)

O give thanks to the LORD, for the LORD is good;

God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.

God has redeemed us from trouble.

Some wandered in the desert,

Dying of hunger and thirst.

They cried out to the LORD;

The LORD heard them and delivered them from distress!

Some sat as prisoners,

In darkness, loneliness, isolation, and gloom.

They cried out to the LORD;

The LORD heard them and delivered them from distress!

Some are sick, with malaria and AIDS,

Burdened by disease that brings stigma and isolation.

They cried out to the LORD;

The LORD heard them and delivered them from distress!

Some are left to raise and tend siblings,

Orphaned by disease and matured by hardship.

They cried out to the LORD;

The LORD heard them and delivered them from distress!

Some are children of the street,

Left alone to violence, to drugs, to gangs.

They cried out to the LORD;

The LORD heard them and delivered them from distress!

Let those who are wise give heed to these things.

God’s steadfast love endures forever!

~ Kristin Holbrook, UMV http://www.roanokeumc.org/clientimages/45038/litanies.pdf

Pastoral Prayer: When the Way is Unclear

Here’s a pastoral prayer for those whose future looks uncertain. It was written by Rev. Abi.

Pastoral Prayer

God of enduring love
When our steps in life our unsure,
When the way to go is unclear,
Guide our path

God of enduring love
When life throws us curveballs,
When things look bleak,
Strengthen us.

God of enduring love
When we find ourselves surrounded by too much stuff,
When we want more and more to satisfy us,
Draw our hearts to you.

God of enduring love
When we lost our hope,
When we grieved and grieved some more,
Hold us in your arms.

God of enduring love
When we are drowning in a sea of debt,
When we are overwhelmed by the tasks of work and life,
Lift us up into your hands of love.

~ written by Rev Abi, and posted on Rev Abi’s Long and Winding Road blog. http://vicarofwadley.blogspot.ca/

Contemporary Songs: Psalm 107

If you’re looking for contemporary Praise & Worship song suggestions to use with Psalm 107 (the suggested psalm for  Proper 26A,Lent 4B, Proper 7B, Proper 13C), you can find a list at my Contemporary Psalms blog. http://contemporarypsalms.blogspot.ca/  The blog is not finished (and likely never will be, since I keep coming across new songs!), but perhaps something there will be helpful.

Follow this link to Psalm 107: http://contemporarypsalms.blogspot.ca/2013/05/psalm-107.html

Readers Theatre: Colossians 3:1-11

Here’s a readers’ theatre setting of Colossians 3: 1-11.  It is set for two voices.

Readers’ Theatre: Colossians 3: 1-11

One:     Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,

set your sights on the realities of heaven,

where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

Two:     Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 

For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 

One:     And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world,

you will share in all his glory.

Two:     So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.

Have nothing to do with sexual immorality,

impurity, lust, and evil desires.

One:     Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater,

worshiping the things of this world. 

Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.

Two:     You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 

            But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage,

malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 

One:     Don’t lie to each other,

for you have stripped off your old sinful nature

and all its wicked deeds. 

Two:     Put on your new nature,

and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator

and become like him. 

One:     In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,

circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free.

Two:     Christ is all that matters,

and he lives in all of us.

Prayer: Hosea 11:1-7

Here’s a prayer of petition inspired by Hosea 11: 1-7. It comes from the Prayer and Bible Study website.

Prayer

(inspired by Hosea 11: 1-7)

Lord God,

we sometimes wonder why our lives take the paths they do.

We seem to find ourselves in all

sorts of situations we had never envisaged,

and we wonder what You are doing with us.

Keep close to us, we pray,

and give us the faith to trust You, for whatever happens.

Then, in Your providence,

show us more of Your glory and grace,

so that we may be encouraged, and praise You forever: Amen.

~ posted on Prayer and Bible Study. http://www.prayerandbiblestudy.org/

Responsive Litany: Psalm 107:1-9, 43

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever. 

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,

those he redeemed from trouble

and gathered in from the lands,

from the east and from the west,

from the north and from the south.

Some wandered in desert wastes,

finding no way to an inhabited town;

hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress;

he led them by a straight way,

until they reached an inhabited town.

Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,

for his wonderful works to humankind.

For he satisfies the thirsty,

and the hungry he fills with good things.

Let those who are wise give heed to these things,

and consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Call to Worship: Psalm 107

Here’s a simple responsive call to worship inspired by Psalm 107. It comes from David Beswick’s Home Page.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 107:1,8)

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Let us thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wonderful works to humankind. 

~ posted on David Beswick’s Home Page. http://www.beswick.info/index.htm

Prayer of Confession: Luke 12

Here’s a prayer of confession inspired by Jesus’ teachings on possessions in Luke 12.

Confession

(inspired by Luke 12)

Merciful God,

we live in a society that focuses on gathering things.

We collect, store, gather items, gadgets, even people.

We focus our energies on our collections

providing adequate room for them

and yet we bar the door to the needs of others,

of those who have little or nothing,

of those for whom life has been a constant struggle.

We are sorry for the ways in which we have failed you.

Forgive us.

Turn us around to look at the ways in which our wealth,

both of substance and spirit,

can be used for healing and hope.

Enable us to be in ministry to those in need

and to care for this world.

For we ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

~ written by Nancy C. Townley.  Posted on the Worship Connection page of the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/

Prayer: Hold Lightly

Here’s a prayer of petition inspired by Jesus’ teaching about possessions.  It comes from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (see link below).

Prayer of Petition

Generous God,

in abundance you give us things both spiritual and physical.

Help us to hold lightly the fading things of this earth

and grasp tightly the lasting things of your kingdom,

so that what we are and do and say

may be our gifts to you

through Christ, who beckons all to seek the things above,

where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

~ from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.  Posted on Thematic, Intercessory and Scripture Prayers for the RCL, Vanderbilt Divinity Library. http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/

Pastoral Prayer: Proper 13 C

Here’s a pastoral prayer inspired by the suggested scripture readings for Proper 13 C.  It was written by Richard J. Einerson.

Pastoral Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 107, Luke 12: 13-21)

Our gracious, eternal God, we bow to you who are from everlasting to everlasting. We thank you for that seed of uneasiness which you have placed within us which causes us to hunger and thirst for an inner peace which endures. Yet we often wander on life’s journey and fail to find peace. And we know that our lack of peace is due to the many ways in which we misdirect our inner discontent.

• We set our sights on money and would figuratively build bigger and better barns.

• We keep our eye upon those who are more successful and we become consumed by envy.

• We carry resentment that someone else has more than we and we rail against life’s unfairness.

• We long for a security which money might bring but fail to see that there is no way money can cure our inner discontent.

Bend your ear to us this day. Provide your healing touch and help us to redirect our search for security and peace.

• Help us always to remember that it is you who lend us life and that life is a gift.

• Help us to remember that the purpose of life is always greater than knowing that we have enough for tomorrow.

• Help us to remember that our resources also are only a gift and that we are only caretakers with a responsibility for the well-being of our sisters and brothers.

• Help us to remember that true riches do not lie in abundance but in being rich toward you who alone offer a peace which passes all understanding.

O God, we ask that you would transform us and provide us victory over all greed and avarice. Amen

~ written by Richard Einerson, and posted on Richard J. Einerson: Prayers of the People. http://www.richardeinerson.com/einerson_004.htm