God, sometimes we show up to worship ready to encounter your presence.
We know you are always with us.

Sometimes we catch glimpses of you at home, work, or school—in a smile, in a gentle breeze, in the joy of being together.
We know you are always with us.

But God, we hesitate to encounter you in all of your glory, afraid to be overwhelmed by your love and holiness.
And yet, we know you are always with us in the fullness of your glory.

Ready our hearts today to encounter more of your glory, your love, holiness, and glory that is always present with us.
We come today to enter the dance of the all-consuming presence of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, February 2024.

Prayer for the Day

God, our loving God,
you are the Surprise from whom all discoveries grow,
the Delight of whom each victory sings,
the Joy to whom all lasting pleasures flow,
the Search out of whom all science springs,
the Truth who surfaces when all seems lost,
the Love who will not count the cost.

Creating God, high beyond our understanding,
we worship your mystery!
Redeeming God, deep beyond our deserving,
we worship your mystery!
Inspiring God, near beyond our perceiving,
we worship your mystery!
Amen!
And again we say Amen!

Written by Bruce Prewer, posted at http://www.bruceprewer.com/DocB/BTRINITYSUNDAY.htm.

Prayer of Confession

O God,
You are holy,
and deep within ourselves
where our souls touch the ground,
where our being meets your being,
we are on holy ground
and your holiness surrounds us
and calls our name.

Your holiness is your goodness,
your generosity towards us
and the silence which waits
and hopes and is glad
and disappointed - and waits.

You wait to meet us,
to make us holy with your holiness,
to make us loving with your love,
to make us hopeful with your hope.

In your presence, we bow our heads
in shame where we have failed others,
failed ourselves and failed you.
Touch us with the tenderness of your forgiveness.

In your presence, we breathe new life
when we dare to be still, to be centered,
to be whole, to be holy.

Set us free to be holy.
Set us free to be for ourselves a place
where sacredness is joy and peace.
And let us be a sacred space for others
and make sacredness for them.

Dwell in us as in a holy temple,
that we may know stillness
and that we may sense the fragrance of your love
and bring that fragrance to
where life is a stench and putrid and stale,
within ourselves and within our world.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Written by William Loader, posted at http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/reflectiveindex.html. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/05/prayer-gods-holiness.html.

Benediction

Go now in the blessed presence of the Triune God who cleanses you, calls you, and empowers you to be messengers of God’s love in this world even as you are surrounded by God’s all-consuming presence wherever you go. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, February 2024.