Prayers for Sunday March 25, 2001

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Invocation or Call to Worship (Based on Ps 32)

Leader: Happy are those whose sins are forgiven!
People: Happy are those whom the Lord does not punish for their guilt.
Leader: When we keep silent about our sin, we die within. Our spirit dries up inside us, as if baked under a hot summer sun.
People: But when we confess our sin to God, God forgives our guilt. Let us worship God!

Prayer of Confession

Holy Lord, we despise the sins that others commit. We look with scorn at those whom we read about in the newspaper: the thieves, the drunks, the murderers. We stare in contempt at liars, cheaters, and swindlers. We burn with anger toward those who have wronged us and those who have wronged others. We demand justice. We demand punishment. But we confess that we focus so much attention on the misdeeds of others as a way of drawing the attention away from ourselves. Gracious God, give us the courage to acknowledge our own sins. Forgive us, and help us to realize that we, as much as anyone, are in need of Your mercy. We pray for pardon in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Loving God, even though we are not worthy to be in Your presence, You welcome us and set a bounteous feast before us. We pray that in like manner, instead of merely giving to others what we think they deserve, we may share with others in abundance, just as You have abundantly given Yourself to us. Receive our gifts as a sign of our gratitude and thanks. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

God of saints and God of sinners, You are the Lord of us all. You send out invitations to all people, inviting us to join together at one table, as honored guests at the one party where You are the host. But we are quick to cast aside that word of welcome. We look with derision at the others whom You have also invited to come. We give snide glances at the prodigal, the prostitute, and the pauper. We sneer at them, not wanting to have anything to do with their kind. We prefer instead to have our own party, a celebration where we can control who is on the guest list. Or even worse we use these differences to gain power or shirk responsibility

Creator God, You are the one God and Father of us all. Even though we clearly see the distinctions that make us superior to those around us, You do not see those distinctions. Instead, You look at us all alike, as being Your children. Therefore, bind us together as Your one people. Tear down the barriers of race, economic class, age, and anything else that might divide us. Unify us, so that together we may stand side-by-side and walk hand-in-hand as we journey toward the victorious celebration that You would have us enjoy. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.