Is It Fair?

Call to Worship

Beloved disciples, welcome! We gather as people reconciled to one another and God through grace, a gift freely and lovingly given that we do not earn or deserve. We receive the marvelous work of grace in our lives, and we wonder, “Is it fair?”

No! God’s grace is not fair, but a gift of God’s mercy.

We gather as neighbors who have experienced difficulties of every kind. We feel uncertain, fearful, and overwhelmed, and we wonder, “Is it fair?”

No! Our difficulties are not fair, and God’s grace meets our uncertainty with mercy and love.

We gather as a community that knows the suffering of our neighbors. We look at the effects of poverty, food insecurity, and trauma in our neighborhoods, and we wonder, “Is it fair?”

No! The suffering of our neighbors is not fair, and God’s grace calls us to respond to suffering with mercy and justice.

We gather as people who question how to live into God’s abundance and flourishing in a world built on scarcity and greed, and we wonder, “Is it fair?”

Yes! God’s life of abundance and flourishing is fair, because it is merciful. May God’s grace form us into people of mercy, justice, compassion, and truth-telling as we gather today. Amen.

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

Prayers of the People

Merciful God,
In love You created us,
and in love, You sustain us, day after day.
So it is with confidence that we bring our prayers to You,
knowing that You will hear and respond.

We pray for those who are estranged from their spouse or family,
Friends, or neighbors;
who find it difficult to forgive past wrongs done to them;

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those who for years have carried feelings of guilt or regret
for something they did or something they neglected to do;
who find it difficult to ask for forgiveness or forgive themselves;

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those who find themselves far away from You,
struggling to overcome their doubts or disillusionment,
and who wonder how to find their way back;

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those watching someone they love try to cope
with serious illness or injury,
and who long for Your miraculous intervention;

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

For the many others in our world who are suffering this day—
from grief, or loneliness, hunger, poverty, violence, or illness;

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Sustain all those who look to You in hope.
And strengthen us—Your people—
so that we may be love for all those who find themselves alone.

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Adapted from “Prayer of Intercession: Proper 15A,” posted at re:Worship blog, https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/08/prayers-of-people-august-14-2011.html.

Prayer of Confession

Precious Lord, strip away the mask I wear during the week to “get by.” Lay my soul bare before you today. Let me see genuine love. Show me the loves that hates evil and holds onto what is good. Strip away the mask that holds my emotions in check when I should share your love with someone. Let me see the joy of giving to others. Show me the power of blessing those who persecute me. Strip away the mask that grins and lies and lets the world think otherwise about a child of God. Amen.

Written by Kwasi I. Kena, The Africana Worship Book, Year A (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2006), 149.

Benediction

Beloved, is it fair? As you go today asking this question, remember: whether your answer is yes or no, there is always room for more mercy. May we be blessed to be people of God’s grace and mercy in a world preoccupied with fairness. Amen.