Sunday, January 24, 2021
CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 71
MUSIC
Curated by Kevin Borst
Hillsong Worship - The Passion
Hillsong Young & Free - Heart of God
Bryan & Katie Torwalt - I Breathe You In God
Commons Creative - Faithfully
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Written by Bobbi Salkeld
Here’s what I love about confession: it’s the prayer of ownership, of truth-telling, of the really real. But confession doesn’t mean dwelling on your sin or getting stuck in the messes you make.
Confession is prayer that moves you forward.
As we take a moment to look inward – to reflect, and to pray – I invite you into a gentle – but ruthless – truth-telling moment. I’ll offer a reflective prompt, then I’ll leave a little space, and then we’ll pray the Jesus prayer.
That rhythm will happen three times.
So please join me in reflection and prayer.
First prompt:
What have you been carrying around with you that exhausts you with guilt, shame, and regret?
Perhaps it’s a mistake you haven’t made right.
Perhaps it’s a memory you define yourself by
even though you know
that memory has worn out its welcome and it is time to move on.
There are many things that exhaust us with guilt, shame, and regret.
Together we pray –
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Second prompt:
Where do you long to experience a fresh start and a new beginning?
Maybe it’s in how you speak to someone near to you.
Maybe it’s a relationship that needs forgiveness and so much grace.
It’s so very human to need a fresh start and a new beginning.
Together we pray –
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Third and final prompt:
What ways might God be inviting you to pause and offer empathy and compassion?
Could it be to imagine the fear deep inside of someone with a different political perspective?
Could it be to notice the fractures we all have in our relationship to the natural world?
There are so many opportunities to offer empathy and compassion.
Together we pray –
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Now, hear these words of assurance:
You worship and enjoy –
God who forgives you (and those who are different from you),
Christ who renews you (and those you struggle to understand),
And the Spirit who enables you to grow in love (with all of God’s creation).
Amen.
