Call to Worship

Children of God, you are welcome here. All of who you are—even your regrets and failings—is welcome here.
We come to tell the truth about who we are in relationship with God.

Many of us find it easy to recognize our goodness and difficult to notice our sins.
We come to tell the truth about who we are in relationship with God.

Others of us live under a shroud of guilt and shame, believing we can never be good enough to receive the fullness of God’s love.
We come to tell the truth about who we are in relationship with God.

However you enter this place, know this: you are loved, accepted, and called. May God’s love draw us to honest confession; God’s acceptance assures us of the work of grace in our lives, and God’s call compels us to live in grace.
We come to tell the truth about who we are in relationship with God who loves us, accepts us, and calls us. Amen.

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

Prayer for the Day

Holy God, joy of the universe,
it is your awesome love that brings us here.
You awaken within us a loving response,
which hungers and thirsts for your truth and beauty.

As we worship you,
please do not give us the blessings
we want but the ones we most need.
Satisfy us with the truth that we may need,
though such truth might be most uncomfortable,
and confront us with your holy beauty,
that brings us healing.

Through Christ Jesus your joyful Son.
Amen!

Adapted from Bruce Prewer, http://www.bruceprewer.com/DocB/BSUNDAY17.htm. Used with permission of the author.

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we hear the story of David and wonder how he could so abuse his power—serving his own interests in such a selfish way. How different from the way Jesus used his power—serving, healing, and nurturing others.
Forgive us when our actions reflect those of David more than those of Jesus.

The account of David shows someone yielding to temptation by feeding his own particular hunger with disastrous results, whilst Jesus took time to feed the crowds with miraculous results.
Forgive us the times when we have yielded to the temptation of feeding our own interests to the detriment of others around us.

David demonstrated how things can get out of control when God’s rules are not followed, while Jesus demonstrates how God’s power can bring peace even into the stormiest situations.

We confess that the way of the world does reflect more the way of David than the way of Jesus, and we pray that we may be powerfully strengthened by the Holy Spirit to witness to Jesus’ love and compassion in and through all we do and say. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen

Assurance of Forgiveness

Through the power of the Holy Spirit within us, God is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine. So, hear and believe the good news that in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Written by Moira Laidlaw, on Liturgies Online at http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/07/confession-proper-12-b.html.

Benediction

Beloved, receive this good news: Nothing can separate you from the love of God. May you go now in the blessing of God who forgives our sins and empowers us to turn once again to be and become who God calls us to be. Amen.

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