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confession: resurrect your song within us

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Holy God, the Alleluias of Easter still ring in our ears – and it is when we sing along that we get into trouble. It’s so easy to sing our Alleluias so loudly that it drowns out the sound of our neighbors needing help – of our family members’ pain – of our own need for you. After all, it’s much easier to sing than to do the reconciling work you call us to. God, you listen in the darkness for our pleas to you – help us to do the same for our friends, family, and even enemies! Resurrect your Song within us, that we might sing while we work. Through you, may the Song of Life call us together in your Holy Harmony. Amen.

 
submitted by Rev. Lucus Levy Keppel, Ancho + Corona Presbyterian Churches, New Mexico

Easter Season communion invitation

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Jesus met his disciples—women and men, young and old—

and invited them into his new life.

Jesus still meets his disciples—women and men, young and old—

and invites us into his new life.

That new life begins, as any life begins, with water and bread.

At this table, we receive the bread of new life.

At this table, we are called together from many individuals into one body.

At this table, we are strengthened to go answer Christ’s call.

This table is not mine, and it does not belong to this church.

This is not a Presbyterian table.

All of us, no matter who we are, or what we have done, or where we are on life’s journey, are as welcome here as Peter and Joanna and Mary and James were at the first table.

The risen Christ is the host, and he bids us come and celebrate the feast,

to know the power of resurrection, the joy of heaven, the glory of God’s grace.

 

Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL

Maundy Thursday: Surely Not I?

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a prayer to be placed right after the part of the reading where the disciples ask if they are the one to betray, and Jesus answers Judas with “you have said so.”

Surely not I, Lord? Surely not us? Surely not.
Surely I am not the one who will betray you.
Surely we are not the ones.
It’s someone else who denies knowing you,
someone else who uses you for their own gain,
someone else who wants to control you.
Surely not us.
…
For the times when we protest too much…
For the times we point fingers to cover up our own wrong…
For the times we think of ourselves more highly than we ought…
Forgive us.
For the times we have betrayed you with our words—
speaking thoughtlessly,
hurting someone to get a laugh,
denying that your call extends to the parts of our lives we would rather keep to ourselves…
Forgive us.
For the times we have betrayed you with our actions—
living as if you are confined to the sanctuary, leaving us free when we are not here,
acting as if we have ben given domination over, rather than stewardship of, your creation,
walking away from those in need, literally and politically…
forgive us.
For the times we have betrayed you with our hearts—
putting you far down our priority lists,
loving our ideas about you more than we love you,
longing for our way to be the one you choose…
forgive us.
For the times we have lived contrary to our baptism,
dipping our hand in the bowl but keeping our whole selves out,
believing we can earn grace…and that they should work for it too,
Forgive us.

Surely not I, Lord?
You have said so.
The truth rings in our ears…and it hurts, O God,
to admit it: it is us.
We follow other gods, we are a poor reflection of your glory,
we use our wealth, status, and power in ways contrary to your will,
we imprison you in our understanding of your word,
we refuse to create justice or to love mercy,
and walking humbly with you would mean letting go of our way.
The truth hurts us, Lord, even as we hear you say: you have said so.
And yet we believe—
we believe that you have the power to transform us and through us to transform the world.
We believe that your grace is enough.
We believe that we have received more love than we can imagine.
We believe that you are the Way, the Life, and the Truth—
the truth that sets us free.
Amen.

Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL

Maundy Thursday prayers

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Opening Prayer (in unison)

O Lord our God, tonight we gather to remember our Savior Jesus and his sacrifice of love for us.  We pause to remember his last meal with his closest friends and disciples.  We pause to remember the betrayal he would suffer.  We pause to remember the pain that would be His to bear.  We gather to bear witness to our Savior.  We gather to grow in our faith and be renewed once again by the Story of mystery, Story of the Resurrection.  Send your Spirit to be with us this night till Easter morning.  In Christ we pray.  Amen.  

Prayer of Confession (in unison)

We confess tonight that we are like those who crucified our Lord.  

We are like those who denied Jesus—refusing to claim him as Lord of our whole life.  

We are like those who have mocked him—forgetting his power in this world.  

We are like those who made him a crown of thorns—diminishing his authority in our lives.  

We are like those who hung him on a Cross—choosing the allure of violence and fear rather than justice and peace.  

We are like those who turned away their gaze—afraid to enter into the suffering of this world.  

Forgive us.  Have mercy upon us.  

On these days of emptiness and death before the Resurrection we begin tonight to offer our confessions to you in silence…..

 

-Silence is Kept-

 

Assurance of Pardon (responsive)

Even in the darkness of this night, even in the emptiness of these hours that stretch out before Easter morning the promise of the Resurrection is still at hand.

It is a dim light, and yet to the light we cling.

Give us grace to receive this assurance of your love.

Grant us peace on this night.  Amen.  

 

Submitted by Rev. Shannan R. Vance-Ocampo, Transitional Presbyter, Albany Presbytery

confession: turn impatience into action

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Faithful God,

Just like our ancestors in the faith, we are impatient. They did not want to wander in the wilderness. We do not want to wait in traffic. Help us to turn our impatience into action. Focus our frustrations on the things that need to be changed. God, we do not want to wait any longer for an end to war. We do not want to wait any longer for an end to homelessness and hunger. We do not want to wait any longer for everyone to have enough. Kindle our righteous anger, O God, and move us toward acts of justice, so all may experience the saving love of your Son, our Savior. Amen.
submitted by Rev. Susannah DeBenedetto, Salisbury, Maryland