Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Wandering
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer, 1979.
Jesus, Lord—because you took on flesh,
You know what it’s like to be us.
You know what keeps us awake at night,
or yanks us out of sleep in the early morning.
You know what it’s like to have good days and bad days, too.
You know the feelings of being physically tired,
emotionally exhausted and mentally drained.
We’re grateful for a God who knows what it’s like to be us.
You know the joys of a newborn child in a family.
You care about parents who care for their children
with wisdom, love, grace and faithfulness so that
one day they’ll turn and follow You.
Give them what they need to fulfill their calling to love as You love.
You care about weddings and marriages that follow.
Bless husbands and wives with your love that bears all things,
hopes all things, endures all things, that never fails.
May our homes reflect Your love for us
and ours for You to all who see them.
You also know what happens when the wonder fades
and real life takes its toll on families and marriages—
when relationships get strained, sometimes to the breaking point,
when our own strength is not enough,
when forgiveness and reconciliation is tough.
Lord—come as the One who specializes in reconciliation,
in hope and in persistent love.
Make a way home for those who’ve wandered;
and an open door when they return.
(Prayer of Adoration)
O Lord, Our Lord,
how excellent is Your Name in all the earth!
When we are faithless – You are faithful.
When we wander – You come after us.
When we’re alone – You draw near to us.
When we are caught up in circumstances
that seek to undo us –
You take what we see as evil and work it for good,
For in Your grace and power,
You work all things for the good of those who love You
and are called according to Your purpose.
(Prayer of Confession)
Yet, while Your love is consistent, eternal and strong,
Our love is fickle, finite and easily swayed.
So, we confess today
that we have not loved You as You deserve,
with our whole selves –
heart, mind, soul, body and strength.
Nor have we loved our neighbors as we love ourselves.
We know Your good will for us, and we shun it.
We think our ways are better than Your ways,
and our wisdom wiser than Yours.
We are wrong!
So, hear now our silent confession of those things
we are too ashamed to say aloud
and too uncomfortable to share with anyone but You …
(Pause) … AMEN.