Of all the virtues of the life worthy of the gospel, truth telling just might be the most crucial in this moment in history. The text makes the argument that telling the truth ought to be the center of all our relationships, and certainly within the body of Christ. Not the cruel truth telling that points out insignificant flaws that many imagine when thinking about a pledge to always tell the truth, however. This truth telling is the ability to see through the lies we tell ourselves about our motivations and our hidden sinfulness and to confess even as we call others to confess their less than firm grip on the truth. Let us, as we worship, pledge to bear witness to the truth in all things.

Prayer: Bread of Life

Bread of life,
you taught us to put away bitterness and anger,
and with tenderhearted kindness
to share the fruit of our labor with the needy.
Strengthen us by your grace,
that in communion with you,
we may forgive one another
and live in love as Christ loved us. 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, https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/prayers.php?id=214.

Prayers of the People

(inspired by 2 Samuel 18, Ephesians 4:25-5:2)

O Eternal One, whose message to us has always been that our relationship to you is inextricably related to how we treat our sisters and brothers, bend low your spirit this day and touch us with your power.

Wean us from our tendency to nurture perceived slights and to put hot coals to our anger.
Wean us from all tendencies to take advantage of others for personal gain.
Wean us from negativity and from becoming bitter whether or not we think we are justified in our feelings.
Wean us from the all too human and common tendency to gossip about others and to slander them in any way.
Wean us from carrying malice in our hearts and from giving in to anything that would poison relationships with others.

Make us over again, O gracious God.

Give us a consistent kindness and compassion for others. Keep us always tender hearted even when the world delivers difficult blows and setbacks to us. Teach us once again about your redeeming grace in order that we may learn, however slowly and however tentatively, how to forgive others. Teach us how to live abundantly into the future as victorious and expectant people, greeting each new day with eagerness and excitement. And indelibly remind us that we are among your forgiven and beloved community.

We present to you all who have special need of your grace today. Keep them in your gracious care and insofar as we are able use us to make their burdens lighter. Be with those who war and who are victims of war and grant to us a peaceful world. Amen

Written by Richard Einerson in Prayers of the People: Pastoral prayers for Worship and Personal Devotion, Bloomington, AuthorHouse, 2006. http://www.richardeinerson.com/.

For We Are Members of One Another

(A Litany based on Ephesians 4 and 5)

One: Come, let us put away all things that divide us and love one another.
Many: For we are members of one another (Eph. 4:25b)
One: Come; let us not be divided from one another by gender, race, color, or status.
Many: For we are members of one another.
One: Come; let us put away lies, anger, stealing, and corrupt words.
Many: For we are members of one another.
One: Come; let us put away bitterness, wrath, clamor, and malice.
Many: For we are members of one another.
One: Come; let us put away uncleanness, idolatry, and deception.
Many: For we are members of one another.
One: Together let us speak truth, labor together, and do what is good and edifying to the Lord.
Many: Let us be imitators of God, walk as the children of God, and love as Christ first loved us.
One: Come, let us be the people of God we are called to be.
Many: For we are saints, God’s chosen people, and members of one another. AMEN.

Eugene Blair, The Africana Worship Book for Year B, Discipleship Resources, 2007, 96.

Commission & Benediction

(inspired by Ephesians 4:25-5:2)

Go out and imitate God, living in love.
Put your hope in God’s Word
and let your own words be truthful and constructive.
May sin rouse your anger,
. . . but never let anger cause you to sin.
Don’t allow any room for evil.

And may God always hear your voice.
May Christ Jesus raise you to new life;
and may the Holy Spirit nourish you for the life of love.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
. . . In the name of Christ. Amen.