Liturgical Resources

Call to Worship

Followers of Christ, we live in a world where we hurt one another, where sin divides us one from another and makes us enemies instead of neighbors.
Yet we are a people of grace, called by Christ to forgive and repair the rifts between us.

The divisions in our world seem like too much to overcome, and we wonder if this forgiveness thing really works anymore. Maybe it worked for Jesus, but not for us.
Yet we are a people of grace, called by Christ to forgive and repair the rifts between us.

We find ourselves tempted by easy answers and quick solutions, reticent to do the slow and difficult work of reconciliation.
Yet we are a people of grace, called by Christ to forgive and repair the rifts between us.

In this place, may we encounter Christ who meets us in the places where we want to give up, where we despair that life-giving change is even possible, with abundant grace to sustain us on the journey.
God, form us today as people of grace, called by Christ to forgive and repair the rifts between us. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, May 2026.

Opening Prayer

Liberating God, we worship you.
We praise you for delivering your people of old from enslavement in Egypt
by opening up a new and unexpected future before them.
They experienced your grace and mercy in awesome and life-sustaining ways,
which must have been like an impossible dream coming true.
Through these acts, you showed your compassion
for the weak and powerless of this world.
We praise and adore you for opening up a new future for us
when your love and compassion, your mercy and grace
became enfleshed in Jesus Christ.
He delivered us from the bondage of evil and sin through his death on the cross.
The impossible once more became reality
when love defeated evil once and for all.
We pray that this time of worship will be a true offering
of our wonder and praise
that you should care for us so deeply and so faithfully.
This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by Moira Laidlaw on Liturgies Online. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/09/opening-prayer-exodus-14-19-31.html.

Prayer of Confession

O God, we seek your mercy…
yet we ourselves look for payback when we are wronged.

We think it “only fair” and “what is right” when we retaliate
and use harsh words
and withdraw from relationship.

The forgiveness you offer on our account
is larger than we can comprehend;
still, we withhold forgiveness
and carry the grudge over petty items.

We are eager to do your judging.
And the worst: we conspire our inner thoughts
to secure your forgiveness
while avoiding honest repentance.

Forgive us, Lord, for the sins we know in our hearts.
Save us, Lord, from the sins we hide.

Silent prayer of confession

God’s gift of forgiveness makes us able,
with the power of Holy Spirit,
to choose to forgive, renew, and live again
in right relationship with each other and with our God.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Glory to God! Amen.

Adapted from Bill Wessner and posted on Confession RCL blog. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/09/confession-matthew-18-21-35.html.

Benediction

Followers of Christ, go now in the blessing and assurance that you are a forgiven people empowered by grace to forgive and heal the divisions that keep us from truly loving God, self, neighbor, and all creation with the fullness of our beings. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, May 2026.