Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Stewardship
Adapted from 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, NIV
Praise be to you, O LORD,
God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.
Generous God our Father – who gives us all good gifts:
Gifts of life, love and, relationships;
gifts of work and leisure, effort and rest;
and, most of all, gifts of Your Son and our salvation,
your Spirit’s presence and power.
You do all things well.
By your love and strength you work
all things together for the good of those
who love you and hear you call our names.
You are good and you are strong.
You are holy and you are loving.
However, we’re but a slight reflection of you;
and sometimes more a shadow than an image of you.
While your goodness seeks to bless others—
ours is on a constant quest to bless ourselves.
While your strength strives to create life and hope—
ours is, too often, the source of destruction to both.
We are neither holy nor loving—
except in that we wholly love ourselves
rather than wholly loving you and others.
Forgive us for what in us obscures your image
rather than displays it so that all can know you through us.
Forgive also what we now confess quietly in the silence,
too embarrassed to confess them aloud before one another.
(Silence) … AMEN.