One: We come from mountaintop and valley
All: From highways and quiet streets.
One: We come with joys and concerns
All: with expectations and excuses.
One: We come seeking Christ
All: to know and follow his way.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson
TeriP
Confession: on our terms
We name you Christ…and in the next breath we explain what we mean by that.
We offer our hearts and lives…on our terms.
We make sure you know when we think you’ve gone wrong.
We are full of human thoughts and there’s little room for God’s thoughts.
Forgive us again. Correct us.
Turn us around, and teach us your ways,
and lead us as we let go of all that we have grasped so tightly,
that we may pick up the cross and follow you.
Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson
Illumination: open
Open your good news to us, O God…and open us to your good news, that we may find ourselves in your abundant life. Speak, Lord, and help us to listen. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson
Confession: conditional faith
Voice 1: Show us a sign!
Voice 2: Make us understand!
Voice 3: If you can explain, we will believe!
All: We confess, Holy One, that often our faith is conditional. We trust you when we can see where you are going, and we believe your word when it makes sense with what we already know. The rest of the time…our voices can often be heard in the midst of the crowd demanding that you meet our expectations. Forgive us. Help us to trust where we have not seen. Teach us your way, foolish step by foolish step, until we find ourselves living your wisdom. Amen
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson
Dedication: learning foolishness
Generous God, you have chosen to reveal yourself to us in ways this world considers foolish…and you call us to join you. As we learn generosity in the midst of a world that teaches self-sufficiency, bless our gifts that they may be a blessing to others. As we learn trust in the midst of a world that teaches individualism, bless our gifts that they may lead us into community. As we learn sacrifice in the midst of a world that teaches greed, bless our gifts that they may remind us of all you have given to us. We dedicate these, our gifts of treasure and talent, to the foolishness of your glory. Amen.
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