What Are You Seeking?

Call to Worship

Beloved disciples, welcome. As we gather, what are you seeking?

We seek God’s presence all around us.

Beloved disciples, if God’s presence is all around us, what are you seeking?

We seek to recognize God’s presence among us.

Beloved disciples, if God is among you, what are you seeking?

We seek God in the faces of family, friends, and neighbors.

Beloved disciples, if God is in the face of your neighbor, what are you seeking?

We seek God in the search and the work for peace and wholeness for all God’s creation.

As we gather today, may we meet God in our seeking and in our finding.

Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, February 2023.

Prayer for the Day

Lord, if it’s you, we need to hear from you

When we are alone
When we go away to pray
When we have little faith
When we are battered by the waves
When the wind is against us
When we get in the boat
When we’re terrified by our ghosts
When we seek you on the mountain
When we cry out in fear
When we start walking on water
When we begin to sink
When we are far from land
Lord, if it’s you,
speak to us,
calm our fears,
calm our storms
Strengthen our resolve
Remind us who you are
Walk to us
Call to us
Save us
Reach out your hand and catch us
Quiet the wind around us

Lord, if it’s you, we worship you for “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Amen.

Written by Tony Peterson, The Africana Worship Book, Year A (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2006), 91.

Prayer of Confession

Gracious Creator, we seek your blessing, knowing that we have not earned it. In our faults, we seek your blessing. In our sins, we seek your forgiveness. In our weakness, we seek your strength. In our sorrow, we seek your consolation. In our trials, we seek your justice. In our pain, we seek your peace. Hear our prayers, O God, and make our hearts new. Amen.

Written by Beth Merrill Neel on her blog, “Hold Fast to What Is Good.” Used with permission. https://holdfasttowhatisgood.com/liturgy/prayer-of-confession/.

Benediction

Beloved family of Christ, the search is not over. The seeking has only just begun. Yet through it all and in it all, God is with us. May we go today trusting that we are found in God and living so that God is found in us. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, February 2023.