Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,
Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer,
we humbly stand before you,
seeking your will in our lives.
We confess our willfulness and stubborn waywardness;
our plundering of the vulnerable and defilement of creation
without concern for the damage inflicted.
Forgive, forgive, forgive, O Merciful God:
lead us to repentance,
away from our embrace of death, greed, and destruction.
Hollow out and purify our hearts
that they may be filled to overflowing
with your divine compassion and healing, Lord Christ,
living in the knowledge of your presence and grace.
Pour out upon us
the abundance of your peace,
and give us the wisdom to choose love and mercy
as our crown and our shield.
Grant, we beseech You,
your unfailing comfort and strength to those we now name.
Amen.
Photo:
Suspended in Ice, Creve Coeur Lake
With the rising light
we bow our hearts before You, Blessed Savior,
and center ourselves within your grace,
turning to you as little children
seeking your will in our lives.
Merciful God, we confess our sins to you:
We cast our sins as virtues
and transform "charity" into an expletive;
we turn from You and one another,
trusting only in ourselves;
we exploit the desperate, scorn the poor,
and mock the marginalized.
Forgive, forgive, forgive, we pray:
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
strengthen us in love.
We cast ourselves upon your compassion, O God,
that we be cleansed of our arrogance and anger,
and strengthened to true repentance.
Help us correct our course away from the shoals of contempt
toward the path of life and compassion.
Reawaken our hearts to seek reconciliation,
and make us a faithful people, Beloved Jesus,
embodying your gospel of healing into the world.
Amen.
Image: A mural by South African artist Faith47 in Miami.
Our help is in the Lord God
who is making the heavens and the earth,
and calling us to turn from darkness
with steadfast love and compassion
for our waywardness.
Holy One,
the ground shifts beneath our feet,
and we wonder,
will we fall
or will we fly?
Yet your love bears us up,
and leads us in hope and light.
Give us the courage, O Savior,
to stand for right,
for the protection of the vulnerable,
and against the tyranny of fear
that is used to justify violence.
Give us the wisdom, O Spirit of Truth,
to hear Jesus's teaching
that fear begets fear
and the enemy of love is selfishness,
but the way of God
is generosity,
compassion,
and integrity.
O Merciful One,
pour the blessing of your peace
upon our turbulent hearts
that we may be reconciled and enlightened
to live as your children in word and deed.
Extend the shelter and balm of your grace, O Lord,
and relieve us in our trials and cares,
plant your peace in our hearts,
and comfort and heal those for whom we pray.
Amen.
