Litany: Psalm 51 and Psalm 103

Here’s a responsive litany of confession and assurance, contrasting verses from Psalm 51 with verses from Psalm 103.  The congregation (or a second reader) is invited to read Psalm 51 (in bold print); the worship leader reads Psalm 103 (in regular print).

Litany of Confession

(Psalm 51 & Psalm 103)

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.

Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

            Our God is merciful and gracious,
            slow to get angry, and full of unfailing love.

Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.

For I recognize my shameful deeds—they haunt me day and night.

            God will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.

Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;

I have done what is evil in your sight.

You will be proved right in what you say,

and your judgment against me is just.

            God has not punished us for all our sins,

            nor does he deal with us as we deserve.

            For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

            so great is his love for those who fear him;

            as far as the east is from the west,

            so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

I was born a sinner—from the moment my mother conceived me.

            God is like a father to his children,

            tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

            For he understands how weak we are;

            he remembers that we are only dust.

You desire honesty from the heart;

teach me to be wise in my inmost being.

            For our days on earth are like grass;

            like wildflowers, we bloom and die.

            The wind blows, and we are gone—

            as though we had never been here.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and make me willing to obey you.

            For the love of the Lord remains forever

            with those who fear him.

            His salvation extends to the children’s children

            of those who are faithful to his covenant;

            those who obey his commandments.

The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit.

A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

            Our God is merciful and gracious.

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

~ Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Lenten Prayer: A prayer for new life

Here’s a prayer for Lent from Pamela C. Hawkins.  It comes from the Prayers and Creeds website.

Prayer for Lent

O God, who makes all things new,
new stars, new dust, new life;
take my heart,
every hardened edge and measured beat,
and create something new in me.

I need your newness, God,
the rough parts of me made smooth;
the stagnant, stirred;
the stuck, freed;
the unkind, forgiven.

And then, by the power of your Spirit,

I need to be turned toward Love again. Amen.

~ by Pamela C. Hawkins, in The Awkward Season: Prayers for Lent (Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, 2009), 30. Posted on Prayer and Creeds, https://prayersandcreeds.wordpress.com/

Blessing: Psalm 51

Here’s a blessing inspired by Psalm 51. It comes from Jeff’s Blog.

Blessing

(inspired by Psalm 51)

May God create in you a clean heart,
a transformed heart,
a heart that knows and seeks and loves
the justice and mercy of the Lord.

May you accept the gift of salvation –
not your personal possession to be coveted,
but His work, accomplished in the destruction of Sin
on the cross of Jesus Christ.

And may you humble yourself before the Lord,
coming before Him with a broken spirit,
a contrite heart
receiving from His hand
great compassion
and unfailing love. 

~ posted on Jeff’s Blog. https://blog.wisch.org/category/benedictions-and-prayers/

Prayer: Lord, we would follow you

Here’s a prayer of confession and commitment from John Birch’s Faith and Worship website.

Prayer

Lord, we would follow you
wherever you might lead.
Lord, we would follow you.
Forgive us when we stumble
and when we stray.
Forgive us when, distracted
we lose our way.
Be the one to whom we turn,
whose hand we hold,
the Shepherd who leads us
safely to the fold.
Lord, we would follow you
wherever you might lead.
Lord, we would follow you.

~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com/

Call to Worship: Luke 15: 1-10

Here’s an opening call to worship inspired by Luke 15: 1-10.  It comes from the Presbyerian Church in Canada website.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Luke 15:1-10)

God calls to the lost, the least, and all who long for home;

God calls when we wander from the path chosen for us

and waste the gifts we have been given.

God calls and welcomes us back to worship this day;

let us celebrate and rejoice in God’s presence forever;

let us worship God together.

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

Confession: 2 Kings 2, Psalm 51

Here’s a prayer of confession inspired by 2 Kings 2:1-15, and words of assurance inspired by Psalm 51. It was written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith.

Prayer of Confession/Words of Assurance

(inspired by 2 Kings 2, Psalm 51)

God of the blazing chariots, the whirling wind, the sacred silence,
Listen softly to the confessions of our hearts.

[silence]

Create clean hearts in us.
Renew right spirits within us.
Shelter us within your presence.
Sustain us by your Holy Spirit.
Restore to us the joy of our salvation.

Blazing, whirling, sacred God,
inhabit and transform our stories. Amen.

~ written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith. https://spaciousfaith.com/

Confession: Psalm 51

Here’s a responsive prayer of confession inspired by Psalm 51. It was written by Ann Siddall, and posted on the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre website. Although it was intended as a prayer for the start of Lent, it would be suitable anytime Psalm 51 was being used.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Psalm 51)

On this first day of Lent

we pause,

look within

and examine our consciousness.

Have mercy on us, O God,

according to your steadfast love.

Where we have neglected prayer,

been apathetic in worship,

found reasons to avoid generosity,

or lacked compassion:

Have mercy on us, O God,

according to your steadfast love.

Where we have colluded

in the oppression of those

who become invisible in their suffering,

and ignored on the streets:

Have mercy on us, O God,

according to your steadfast love.

Where anxiety has eroded the gift of Your peace,

and where we have cared too much about what others think:

Have mercy on us, O God,

according to your steadfast love.

Words of Assurance

As Lent begins,

know that God understands how we struggle

to stay open and compassionate.

The invitation is not to focus on our inadequacies,

but on God’s gift of grace and love

which transforms our hearts and minds.

That gift is given to us again, here and now.

Be encouraged.

May the peace of God be with you

and also with you.

~ written by Ann Siddall, and posted on the website of the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre.  http://www.stillpointsa.org.au/

Contemporary Call to Worship: Psalm 14

Here’s a contemporary call to worship based on Psalm 14.  It was written by Thom Shuman.

Contemporary Call to Worship

(based on Psalm 14)

The foolish say, "There is no God!
We are alone, on our own."
We gather to declare
the glory of God in our lives.
The foolish say, "It is your life;
you are accountable to no one."
We gather, strengthened by the Spirit,
trusting that Christ dwells in our hearts.
The foolish say, "Everything I have is mine;
I owe nothing to any one."
We gather to praise the One
who calls us to serve others in love.

~ written by Thom Shuman (2006), and posted on Lectionary Liturgies.  http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/ Visit that site for many other excellent lectionary-based worship resources.

Confession: Luke 15: 1-10

Here’s a responsive prayer of confession/words of forgiveness inspired by Luke 15:1-7 (the parable of the lost sheep).  It was written by Henrietta Stith Andrews.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Luke 15: 1-10)

O Most Patient God,

we recognize how much we need you for life itself.

But how often have we behaved

as if we did not know or even care about you?

How often have we become the ones who do not carry out justice?

How often have we tried to dominate others

even as you stand with them?

How often have we participated in the desolation of your creation

by our treatment of the heavens, the earth and its waters?

Forgive us for these times when we have lost our way.

All Loving God, we want to be among those whom you seek.

Shower your mercy upon us.

Find us, and lead us safely home to faithfulness.

Words of Assurance

My friends, when we are lost, all is not lost.

God is seeking us, ready to turn our lives around,

Gathering us in to the people of God.

Let us rejoice in God’s mercy!   Amen.

~ written by Henrietta Stith Andrews, in From Despair to Rejoicing: Service Prayers for the 17^th Sunday after Pentecost.  Posted on the Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/

Prayer Reflection: Psalm 51

Here’s a reflection inspired by verses from Psalm 51.  It was written by Jan L. Richardson.

Prayer Reflection

(based on Psalm 51)

“But you desire honesty from the heart,

so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.” Psalm 51:6

Not just in my heart

but in the secret space

it holds.

In the heart of my heart.

In the place where I am myself.

In the space that I protect the most

and share the least.

In the hidden chamber

that I sometimes close off

even from myself.

In the realm

where you wait

and watch,

where you see each thing

that lies in shadow,

where you know the names

of all that makes its home

in me.

Here

in my secret heart;

here

teach me to move

with your wisdom,

to open the doors

that will draw me deeper still,

to live in the truth

that you desire;

here

let me open

the windows wide

so that those who pass by

will see you

looking out.

~ written by Jan L. Richardson, and posted on The Painted Prayerbook. http://paintedprayerbook.com/

Call to Worship: Psalm 51

Here’s a responsive call to worship based on Psalm 51:1-17.  It comes from the Worship Closet website.

Responsive Call to Worship

(based on Psalm 51:1-17)

O God, have mercy on us, we pray.

In your mercy, make us clean from our sins.

Wipe away every failing and make us new in your sight.

Restore us, deliver us, and re-create us, O Lord.

~ posted on the Worship Closet. http://worshipcloset.com/

Prayer: Restore to Us the Joy of Your Salvation

Here’s a prayer of petition inspired by Psalm 51:12.  It comes from the Christian Aid website.

Prayer of Petition

(inspired by Psalm 51:12)

Restore to us the joy of your salvation, Lord. 
May refugees be restored to safety. 
May flooded land be restored to fertile ground. 
May broken hearts be restored to wholeness. 
May fearful lives be restored to peaceful rest. 
May compassion fatigue be restored to hopeful perseverance. 
Restore to us the joy of your salvation, Lord. 
Grant in us a willing spirit to sustain us. 
Amen.

~ posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website.  http://www.christianaid.org.uk/resources/churches/prayer/church-seasons.aspx

Psalm 51 Prayer

Here’s a prayer based on Psalm 51.  It was written by Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, and posted on Soul Shepherding.

Prayer

(based on Psalm 51)

Mercy! Have mercy on me, O God Almighty!

I appeal to your unconditional love that never fails;

Forgive my sin because of your enormous compassion.

Wash away all my badness and make me clean.

All my sins are against you, my Lord -

Again I didn’t trust you, I turned away and did wrong.

You alone are holy and you alone can cleanse me;

Please let me rejoice in you again!

Form my heart to be devoted to you alone, O God,

And revive my spirit to be steadfast in loving you.

Remind me continually that I’m in your presence;

O that your Holy Spirit would thrive in me forever!

Restore my soul with the joy of your mercy

And strengthen my will to seek you continually.

My divided and distracted will is all that I have to give you;

So I come with my broken heart, humble and convicted.

O God, because of your mercy you will not reject me;

Your smile and your embrace means everything to me!

My reformed heart gives praise to you for all to hear;

O Lord, this is the offering that brings you delight!

~ written by Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, inspired by Psalm 51.  Posted on Soul Shepherding. http://www.soulshepherding.org/

Prayer Poem: Luke 15: 1-10

Here’s a poem inspired by Luke 15: 1-10.  It was written by Pastor Dan.

The Lost

(inspired by Luke 15: 1-10)

Praise God for the Lord who loves

Praise God for the Lord who cares

In the midst of my weakness

When I am lost

Unable to find

Even myself

There is One who seeks

One who finds

            Me

The lost

And rejoices in the correction of our folly

Rejoices with the angels

Rejoices with song

Rejoices for us

            And with us

Often before we are aware

We were lost

“Isn’t it strange how things happen?”

“It was just one of those days”

“I’ve decided to make a change”

            These are the words we use

Rejoice and be glad,

For that which was lost has been found

~ posted on Pastor Dan’s Grace Notes. http://coslcgrace.blogspot.ca/

Prayers of the People: Proper 19 C

Here’s a prayer of intercession inspired by the suggested scripture readings for Proper 19, Year C. It was written by Father Jeremiah Williamson.

Prayer of Intercession

(using Psalm 51: 10)

Let us implore the Lord our God praying,

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, 

and renew a right spirit within me.”

We pray for leaders of the Church.  

May they serve as examples

to those who would come to believe in Christ for eternal life.  

May the Church place its hope in you, O God,

and not in human wisdom.

Silence

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

We pray for the leaders of the nations.  

May they show mercy and advocate for the rights of the people.  

May they, like Moses, seek the greater good rather than their own interests. 

Silence

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

We thank you for all you created.  

We thank you that your Son Jesus Christ rejoiced in your creation—

telling stories about sheep, praying in the wilderness and walking on the sea.  

May we also appreciate the works of your hands.

Silence

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

We pray for the people in our lives.  

May we learn to love the stiff-necked, the sinners

and all those in great need of your mercy.  

Make us instruments of your peace.

(Allow the congregation to add their petitions and thanksgivings,

followed by Silence.)

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

We pray for the sick, the anxious and the sorrowful.  

Make them hear of joy and gladness,

that broken bodies and broken spirits may rejoice.  

Silence

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

We trust to your mercy, O God, all who have died.  

May they rest eternally in your peace.  

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, our God,

be honor and glory forever and ever.

Silence

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

~ written by Father Jeremiah Williamson, and posted on Praying the Scriptures. http://jeremiahwilliamson.blogspot.ca/

Readers' Theatre: Exodus 32: 7-14

Here is a readers’ theatre setting of Exodus 32: 7-14. It is set for three voices.

Readers’ Theatre: Exodus 32: 7-14

One:     The Lord told Moses,

Two:     Quick! Go down the mountain!

Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt

have corrupted themselves. 

How quickly they have turned away

from the way I commanded them to live!

They have melted down gold and made a calf,

and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it.

They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel,

who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”

I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. 

Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them,

and I will destroy them.

Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.

One:     But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God.

Three:  O Lord! Why are you so angry with your own people

whom you brought from the land of Egypt

with such great power and such a strong hand? 

Why let the Egyptians say,

‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention

of slaughtering them in the mountains

and wiping them from the face of the earth’?

Turn away from your fierce anger.

Change your mind about this terrible disaster

you have threatened against your people! 

Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying,

‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven.

And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your 

descendants, and they will possess it forever.’”

One:     So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster

            he had threatened to bring on his people.

Confession: Lost and Found

Here’s a prayer of confession and words of assurance inspired by the suggested scripture readings for Proper 19, Year C – especially Luke 15:1-10 (the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin). It comes from the Presbyerian Church in Canada website.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Luke 15: 1-10)

God of wisdom,

we confess the foolishness of our ways,

and our failure to follow you in your paths of right relationships –

with you and with others. 

We have gone astray; we feel lost. 

We have upheld our own interests first, to the detriment of others. 

We have failed to be generous with the poor,

and abandoned our efforts to bring about justice. 

We feel the stains of our sins, God;

have mercy on us according to your steadfast love. 

Wash the sinfulness out of us,

and help us to live more faithfully as your servants. 

We seek your unfailing Lordship

and ask for your guiding hand on our lives. 

You are the immortal, invisible One;

to you be honour and glory forever; amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Merciful and loving God,

we thank you for never losing hope for us. 

When we are lost, you are there on the look-out for us,

bringing us back to you like the good shepherd that you are. 

Your Word tells us of the joy in heaven that awaits us. 

May this joy flow into our lives each day,

and be faithfully reflected into the world around us. 

Thanks be to God, our Great Shepherd.  

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

Confession: Exodus 32: 7-14

Here’s a prayer of confession inspired by Exodus 32:7-14 and Psalm 51:1-10, two of the suggested scripture readings for Proper 19, Year C.  It was written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Exodus 32: 7-14 and Psalm 51: 1-10)

Listen O God,

listen and look into our hearts.

You know, Lord, all our sin.

Listen, O God,

listen and look into our hearts.

See and hear, O God,

we lift up our sin to you. 

We name it in silence,

and we repent of the evil we have done

by word and deed,

by omission and commission.

Listen, O God,

listen and look into our hearts

(silent prayers)

Although we are not worthy, O Lord,

we ask you to hear our plea.

Touch us Lord and make us whole.

We ask it by the grace shown to us by Jesus.  Amen.

~ written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild, and posted on the Kir-shalom website.

Litany: Psalm 14

Here’s a simple two-reader setting of Psalm 14.  It is set for two voices.

Psalm 14 Litany

Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!

The Lord looks down from heaven
on the entire human race;

he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
if anyone seeks God.

But no, all have turned away;
all have become corrupt.

No one does good,
not a single one!

Will those who do evil never learn?
They eat up my people like bread
and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord.

Terror will grip them,
for God is with those who obey him.

The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
but the Lord will protect his people.

Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?

When the Lord restores his people,

Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

Contemporary Call to Worship: Psalm 14

Here’s a contemporary call to worship inspired by Psalm 14.  It was written by Thom Shuman.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 14)

The foolish say, 'there is no God.'
We come, trusting in Jesus, 

the face, the voice, the presence of the God who loves us.
The scoffers of our age ask, 'why do you seek after God?'
We come, in this time, 

because God's grace has spilled over in our lives.
The hopeless around us think, 'no one cares about me.'
We come, in this time, to this place,

because Jesus has found us and brought us home.

~ written by Thom Shuman, and posted on Lectionary Liturgies. http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/