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/ Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/08/call-to-worship-luke-15-1-10.html.

Prayer of Confession and Commitment

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. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/08/prayer-lord-we-would-follow-you.html.

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 17th Sunday after Pentecost. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/08/confession-luke-15-1-10.html.

Benediction

May we who have been found by the grace and overwhelming love of God, now become those who seek with grace and joy. Go into your world with open eyes and longing hearts. And may the peace of God resonate in every invitation and every welcome. Amen.

Derek C. Weber, February 2022