Prayers of Confession for World Communion Sunday
Come and Cleanse Your House Again
Merciful Savior, Light of the World
You offer your dwelling place to the nations for worship and prayer
Forgive us for abusing your gift
Forgive us for all the obstacles we put in the way of collaboration and welcome
Come and cleanse your house again
Drive out the mistrust and division
Turn over the tables of hypocrisy and apathy
Empty us of our addiction to prejudice and power
Fill your house, and fill us, with welcome, growth, and redeeming love
Return us to humility, charity, and sacrifice
The congregation is invited to offer their own prayers of confession
Blessed are you, bathing us in your grace and holiness
so everything we do draws people to you
and brings honor to your name
Amen.
Come and Cleanse Your House Again © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com
Standing Together
CONFESSION:
God of the Nations
We stand apart from you
We stand apart from each other
We stand with our tribe
Hiding behind walls
Throwing our stones
Our divisions dishonor you
We harm instead of heal
You weep
Offer your own prayers of confession during this moment of silence
PARDON:
Nothing can stand against You
Nothing
No sin, no death
No prejudice, no division
Nothing can stand against our God
You’re making us whole and holy in your mercy and grace
Standing together in truth and grace
Standing together in power and love
Standing together in unrelenting hope
You’re making us one as you are One
Amen.
Standing Together © 2022 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com
Dear God, As we gather on World Communion Sunday, may we be reminded of Your unconditional grace, love, and provision gifted to us through the death and resurrection of Your son, Jesus Christ. Today, we are reminded that You alone unite the body of Christ, together, as one church under the Lordship of Christ. Forgive us, God, when we stray away from truth. Forgive us, God, for actions that may lead to division rather than unity. Help us, God, to live a purpose-driven life that aligns with Your heart for all people and guided by Your Word of truth. Thank you for welcoming us to commune with You, on our bad days and our good days, not because of anything we have done to deserve it, but because of Jesus’ sacrifice that gives us life. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
Lord Jesus Christ, on the cross you let your body be broken and your blood be shed. So often when we celebrate this act in communion, we fail to respond to your love in ways that glorify you. Sometimes we simply go through the motions with the bread and cup. Other times we think your gift comes only to us, rather than to Christians, everywhere. We might think we can’t come to the table because we don’t deserve your love, or pretend we are such good people we don’t need that love. Today on World Communion Sunday, forgive us for these and all our sins, as we continue to pray in silence…
Silent Prayer
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Submitted by Chip Hardwick
Great and loving God, we know that one day all peoples will worship you on your mountain. We struggle to live into that reality. We turn inward, thinking mostly of ourselves rather than giving you glory. We often hold onto the resources you give us, even when we want to give back to you generously. We forget to praise you for the faithful saints who have come before us, and we long to follow their example more faithfully, as they followed you. Forgive us, O God, for these and all our sins, as we continue to pray in silence…
Silent Prayer
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Submitted by Chip Hardwick
Creator God, you created us in your image. You are three in one. From before time began, you existed in perfect communion. Yet day by day, we choose not to live into your image. We choose division, pointing out others’ wrongs, and arguing. Please remind us of our need for one another as we silently confess our sins to you now…
Submitted by Austin D. Hill
Lord Jesus,
We come to you today convicted of our own sin. When we read your call for the church to be united, we have to admit that we have fallen short. We have gossiped against your body, we have spoken words against you that we are not proud of. We have allowed our emotions to get the best of us, and we have spoken a harsh word about your beloved bride. Lord Jesus, draw us to yourself and keep us from falling back into harmful and unnecessary conflict. Empower us by your Spirit to live a life marked by humility, kindness and gentleness towards your body.
In Christ Jesus our Lord,
Amen.
Stuart Strachan Jr.
Adapted from the Brief Statement of Faith
In sovereign love, you O God created the world good
And make everyone equally in your image,
Male and female, of every race and people,
To live as one community.
But we rebel against you; we hide from you, our Creator.
Ignoring your commandments,
We violate your image in others and ourselves,
Accept lies as truth,
Exploit neighbor and nature,
And threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care.
We deserve your condemnation.
Let us continue to pray in silence, confessing our sins before God and asking for forgiveness.
Silent Prayer
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Submitted by Chip Hardwick (Adapted from the Brief Statement of Faith of the Presbyterian Church [USA])
O God,
whose will it is that all your children should be one in Christ;
we pray for the unity of your Church.
Pardon all our pride and our lack of faith,
of understanding and of charity,
which are the causes of our divisions.
Deliver us from narrow-mindedness,
from our bitterness,
from our prejudices.
Save us from considering as normal
that which is a scandal to the world
and an offence to your love.
Teach us to recognize the gifts of grace
among all those who call upon you
and confess the faith of Jesus Christ our Lord.
French Reformed Church
Looking for More Liturgical Elements?
Check out our Calls to Worship on Unity.