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L: Jesus gave us the great commandments: Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself. We try our best to follow the way of love, but find ourselves falling short of the mark time and time again.
C: Forgive us God, for the times we have not loved you with all of our heart, soul, and mind.
L: Forgive us God when we have not shown love to our neighbors through our words and deeds.
C: Forgive us when we have been unable to love ourselves.
L: Teach us how to be merciful and compassionate.
C: Teach us how to be peacemakers and advocates for justice.
L: Teach us how to see the holy in each and every person.
C: Teach us how to let your infinite love flow through us and out into the world.
L: Our God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Those who turn to God will find an abundant source of forgiveness and new life that enables them to give and receive love more fully. Let us draw closer each day to the Lord of Love that we might become more like Jesus.
C: Amen. [Copyright ©2011, David Eck. www.abidingsaviorlutheranchurch.org. Used by permission.]
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L: When it comes to doing good, most of us have the best of intentions. We try to be more just, more loving, and more peaceful, but the stresses and challenges of the week sometimes cause us to be prejudiced, hateful and angry. Let us go before God and confess the times in our lives when we have stumbled in our walk with Christ. [Silence.] Gracious and Loving Savior,
C: We confess that we are sometimes our own worst enemies. We say what's on our minds without considering how our words might wound another person. We are often self-centered and ignore the needs of others. We judge people far too often and only make friends with those who think exactly like we do. Forgive us for failing to realize that everyone is a child of God, just like us. Open our hearts that we may love more fully. Open our minds that we can learn from the wisdom of others. Use us as channels of grace and healing in a world that is in need of both. We ask this in the name of Christ. Amen.
L: When Jesus rose from the grave, God sent a clear message to us and to the world: Love cannot be defeated. New beginnings and new life are offered to all who seek them. Let us walk closely with Christ this week that we might have life in all of its abundance.
C: Amen. [Copyright © 2011, David Eck. www.abidingsaviorlutheranchurch.org. Used by permission.]
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L: During this season of harvesting, gathering and storing, the fruits of the Spirit are ours for the taking; a bumper crop of blessings are ripe for the picking. Yet, we are lazy and stubborn, unwilling to receive the many blessings God desires to give us. Let us go before God and confess the times in our lives when we have turned our back on God's harvest. [Silence.] God of abundance,
C: We confess that the hectic pace of our daily lives often leaves little time for you. We don't pray enough. We don't spend time savoring the wisdom of your Word. We loose sight of what is important in life. Because of this, our spirit-barns are empty, even though you desire to fill them with an abundance of blessings. Forgive us for being apathetic and indifferent to you. Teach us how to open our hearts and our lives so that you can fill them with a rich harvest of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control. We ask this in the name of Christ. Amen.
L: The Lord of the Harvest, offers forgiveness, healing and blessing to those who wish to receive it. Let us turn to God always and in all ways, that our lives may be filled with an abundance of blessings.
C: Amen. [Copyright 2011, David Eck. www.abidingsaviorlutheranchurch.org. Used by permission.]
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L: God has prepared for us a banquet feast of blessings; a table of delights to nurture our bodies, minds and spirits. Yet, we often refuse the invitation to come and dine. Let us be honest with ourselves and with God, confess our sins, and accept God's invitation to the Welcoming Table. [Silence.] Bread of Life,
C: We confess that we have dined at other tables. They promised us a gourmet meal but we only got junk food in return. These tables have names like Vengeance, Greed, Vanity and the like. Forgive us for settling for anything less than the feast you have prepared for us. May we always be hungry for your justice, mercy, love and compassion. We ask this in the name of Christ. Amen.
L: Hear the good news, brothers and sisters! God has reserved a place for each of us at the Welcoming Table. No matter what we've done. No matter where we've been, God embraces us with open arms and desires to feed us well with grace and healing, forgiveness and new life.
C: Amen. [Copyright © 2011, David Eck. www.abidingsaviorlutheranchurch.org. Used by permission.]
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