Repent and Believe in the Good News: 21st Century Resource

Call to Worship
(Based on Mark 1:14-20)

Leader: Jesus comes, proclaiming good news.
People: The Kingdom of God has come near! Repent and believe in the good news!

Leader: Jesus comes, inviting us to follow.
People: Jesus said, follow me and I will make you fish for people.

Leader: We hear the good news. We hear God's call
People: The Kingdom of God has come near and we have work to do!

A Prayer for the Will to Repent
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. (Jonah 3:10, NRSV)

Lord, help me turn away from evil
Before it is too late
Before the children get the wrong idea
Before I ruin my health
Before I lose my job
Before I break my spouse's heart
Before I go to jail.

Help me to turn away
Before the natural consequences of evil
Cannot be held back.
Before this mark on
An already-seared conscience
Becomes indelible.

Forgiving God, Loving God,
God-who-makes-a-way-out-of-no-way God,
Help me to stop and turn away
Before it is too late!

Amen.