Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Justice
(Prayer of Adoration)
Joyful, joyful we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love –
Holy and wonderful are You:
Your grace is without measure,
and Your purpose sure and true;
Your power is unequaled
and You are sovereign and mysterious in all Your ways.
We thank You for the gift of this today, a new day;
a day when Your mercies are fresh, untainted and new,
and Your faithfulness again clearly visible.
(Prayer of Confession)
Yet, how often we spoil new days!
We repeat old patterns rather than live free.
We hold on to old hurts rather than forgive.
We complain when we don’t our way; and
ignore the needs of others, caught up in our own desires.
We believe lies told about others
and even the ones we tell about ourselves.
We’re complacent in the face of injustice and poverty.
And in all things, we’re better at making excuses
than at repenting and changing our ways.
Forgive us. We have sinned against you in thought, word and deed,
by what we have done and what we have left undone.
Hear now our silent prayers of confession and forgive us because of
Your great love. (Silent prayers of confession)
(Assurance of Pardon)
The Lord declares, through the prophet Isaiah, that “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, and your sins like the morning mist” dissipated by the wind of my Spirit and melted into nothing by the brightness of my Son’s love.
Almighty God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit: You taught us to pray not
only for ourselves but for people everywhere:
so now hear us as we pray for others,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
We ask that You inspire Your whole church in power, unity, and peace.
Grant that all who trust you may obey your Word,
and live together in love.
As we pray for the world, we ask that You lead all nations
in the way of Your true justice and righteous goodwill.
Direct those who govern, that they may rule fairly, maintain order,
help those in need, and defend the oppressed;
so this world may know your rule and experience true peace.
Shall
The time is now, for you have called, O God
The place is now, for you have spoken
Yes, it is a wilderness, a desert even
So dry, so rough, so uneven
Yes, the gap is so very wide between the high and the low
But, you have called
You have spoken
Not an if or when or maybe
Not even a try
You have spoken shall
Every valley shall be lifted
Every mountain shall be made low
The uneven shall be made level
The rough shall be made smooth
So we will persevere in this wilderness of preparing
We will not forge a path or blaze a trail but make a highway
A highway for your coming
For your glory, O God shall be revealed in this place
And all shall see it
All shall see it together
Shall © 2018 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com
Take Up the Cross
Merciful Jesus, give me the courage to deny privilege
To lay down advantage and opportunity
in order to take up the cross of equity and justice
Merciful Jesus, give me the courage to deny comfort
To lay down ease and apathy
in order to take up the cross of unity and solidarity
Merciful Jesus, give me the courage to deny prejudice
To lay down discrimination and segregation
in order to take up the cross of diversity and true love
Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me
Show me what to pick up and what to lay down
So I only carry what leads to life
and give me the courage to help others do the same
Amen
Take Up the Cross © 2017, updated 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com