These liturgical texts are appropriate for use throughout the Time after Epiphany and may be repeated from week to week.
Confession and Lament
1
God is gracious. Therefore, let us confess together
the sin that separates us from God and one another.
God,
all that you require of us
is to do justice, love kindness,
and journey humbly with you.
We confess we are ensnared in systems
that trade justice for the luxury of the few.
Forgive us for fearing the risks
of following you in a culture
where money is king
and for failing to trust the grace you give freely.
Teach us again that we cannot earn your grace,
only humbly accept it.
Audacious Spirit, give us the courage
to do your justice.
Compassionate Christ, teach us to love kindness
and to share each other’s burdens gladly. Amen.
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
In thirsting for justice, we receive living water;
in sharing pain, we also share joy;
in facing human judgment,
God heaps blessings upon us
beyond anything the world has power to give. Amen.
2
Let us approach God with humility,
trusting in God’s grace through Jesus Christ.
God of the oppressed,
we confess we have made a mess of your creation.
We come to seek your mercy
and to hear again your promise
to make all things new.
We have placed conditions on kinship,
and we often feel powerless to enact justice.
We are tempted to give up in despair.
Forgive us, we pray.
When despair beckons, teach us defiant hope
in the face of oppressive powers.
When we sink in grief and uncertainty,
inspire us together to act. Amen.
Friends, believe the good news:
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Jesus sets us free and calls us to join
in God’s revolution. Amen.
Invitations to Discipleship
1
The story of Scripture
is the story of God in love.
From age to age,
God has given glimpses of their glory
cloaked in cloud.
God calls us beloved.
God calls us by name.
God calls us home.
So let us follow in the way of Jesus
and share our Spirit-given gifts.
2
When we follow Jesus,
some will call us fools
for choosing compassion
over self-preservation,
for the wisdom of God is at odds
with what human powers think is wise.
But Jesus calls us blessed,
and the Spirit gives us what we need
to be salt for the earth
and light to the world.
3
Jesus sets us free and empowers us to join
in God’s revolution.
When we witness exploitation and abuse,
we will not despair.
Together, we will act.
When we learn how many people
live hungry and housing-insecure,
we will not despair.
Together, we will act.
When we learn how many queer children and adults
need love or affirming health care,
we will not despair.
Together, we will act,
by the grace of Christ, in the unity of the Spirit. Amen.
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
The triune God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift up all that we are
to the One who created all that we are.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise
for God’s abiding love and grace.
Blessed are you, O God, divine parent.
You created us in your own image
and set us free to serve you.
You gave us your word to guide us
into the promise of a new creation.
Blessed is Jesus, your begotten, beloved Son.
We thank you for inviting us into life with you
through Jesus Christ,
for claiming us in baptismal waters,
and for affirming us when the world rejects us.
Remembering Christ’s saving death,
we share this meal in his name
and offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise.
Just as the Spirit descended on Jesus at his baptism,
pour out your Spirit now upon us
and upon this bread and cup.
As we eat at your table,
we say “yes” to follow you
wherever your Spirit takes us.
As we share your cup,
we say “yes” to unity and solidarity
with all who suffer here on earth,
until, at the heavenly banquet,
we behold you face-to-face at last.
All this we pray in your holy, triune name. Amen.
