Call to Worship

Followers of Christ, God calls us just as we are to live as truth-tellers and gospel-bringers in the world.

God, we know you call us, and still, we ask, “Who am I that you would call me?”

Like Moses standing before the burning bush convinced of his unworthiness to lead your people out of bondage, we ask,

“Who am I that you would call me?”

Like Peter who thought he got it right only to realize that who Jesus is doesn’t meet his expectations of who a Savior should be, we ask,

“Who am I that you would call me?”

As we raise this question to God today, we open our hearts to receive God’s answer:

You are my beloved children. You are my disciples. You are my people called to share the love of God for the transformation of the world. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, March 2023.

Prayer for the Day

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer, 233.

Prayer of Confession

Gracious God,

Though we live in a culture that is reluctant to admit guilt, assume responsibility, or ask for forgiveness, we are so bold as to pray the words of the psalmist who said:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalms 139:23-24 NRSV).

Search us, O God, and reveal anything in our lives that stands between us and your love.

Search us, O God, show us our sins so that we might confess them,

Search us, O God, show us places where we have neglected Christian responsibility and then teach us how to live on this earth with each other,

Search us, O God, show us the faces of those we have wronged so that we might seek their forgiveness.

(Silence)

Words of Assurance: We have not been called to this hour of worship to wallow in sin and self-pity. God has promised to forgive our sins when we confess them and to cleanse us from all manner of unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Rise from your knees as children of God, forgiven from sin and empowered to lead holy lives.

ALL: AMEN, thanks be to God!

Written by Safiyah Fosua, The Africana Worship Book, Year A (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2006), 151-152.

Benediction

Receive this good news: You are beloved children of God, called and equipped to be agents of divine love in the world. And remember, you do not go alone. God goes before you, with you, and behind you wherever you go. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, March 2023.