Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Eternity
(Prayer of Adoration)
Good Morning, God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Before the world was – you were.
Before we were – you knew us.
Before we awoke today – you were alert, active
ready to meet us here and now
In your power and love, wisdom and grace
you always take the initiative.
You are good – and you are strong!
Therefore, we praise and adore you; for …
Before we called to you – you called our names.
Before we gave our lives to you – you gave your life for us.
Before we followed you – you sought and brought us home.
(Prayer of Confession)
Yet, in sinful arrogance and pride
we think it’s all about us and not about you.
Still, as in the ancient garden,
we aren’t content to bear your image;
Instead, we want to take your place.
Yet in the light of your presence,
we see who we really are and what we really do;
We’re more embarrassed by than proud of what we see.
We’re made more humble than self-important,
by what’s revealed.
In your holy compassion,
hear our now unison prayer of confession
which we pray together, saying …
The Assurance of Pardon
The Scriptures declare that our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners by dying for sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous in order to free us from bondage to sin and bring us to God. Therefore, confident in His finished work on the cross and His resurrection to new life, I declare that, by His grace active through your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, you are forgiven of all your sins – and your are free. Hallelujah! Amen.
Father: You know us and love us from eternity.
Jesus: You love us enough to die for us
and be rise again to give us eternal life.
Spirit: You pour out love to us every day, in every way, in all places.
We praise and thank you, God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – for:
Your love is “patient and kind”.
Your love laughs when we laugh;
And Your love weeps when we weep.
Its endurance has no limit.
Its trust is endless. And its hope never fades.
Your love outlasts anything.
It’s the one thing left standing when all else has fallen.
That’s how you love us … thank you!
(Prayer of Confession)
But we fail to love like that.
Our love shifts with each change in the winds of fortune.
It’s impatient and selfish;
Given mostly to ourselves, sometimes to others,
And if there’s any left over – maybe we love you a little, too.