These unison confessional prayers were created to accompany the Lenten sermon series “I Give Up (But in the Good Way): Lent After a Year of Sacrifices.” You are welcome to use or adapt these liturgies for worship, with credit. When printing these liturgies, please use the following credit line: “Prayer by Rev. Carol Holbrook Prickett.”
Week 1: “I Give Up…”
Living God, we confess
to clinging to things
that drive us away from you:
we push ourselves even when we’re running on empty
we treat your promises like ideals we don’t the luxury for
we narrow our hopes and play down our expectations
we let faith wilt in the face of wilderness
Savior, help us
to give up these ways
and take up your abundant life.
We pray in the holy name of Christ.
Amen.
Week 2: “I Give Up… Chasing Approval”
Living God, we confess
to clinging to things
that drive us away from you:
our minds are set on human things
we obsess over how others see us
we chase fleeting praise and approval
we’re always looking over our shoulder
we’re distracted from you in a million ways.
Savior, help us
to give up these things
and take up your abundant life.
We pray in the holy name of Christ.
Amen.
Week 3: “I Give Up… Exhausting Myself”
Living God, we confess
to clinging to things
that drive us away from you:
we wear our exhaustion like a badge of honor
we never stop working
we’re too busy to love our neighbors
too tired to love ourselves
too overscheduled to fit you in.
Savior, help us
to give up these ways
and take up your abundant life.
We pray in the holy name of Christ.
Amen.
Week 4: “I Give Up… What’s Killing Me”
Living God, we confess
to clinging to things
that drive us away from you:
a whole laundry list
of ways we hurt you, ourselves,
and those around us
sins we return to again and again
even though we know they’ll get us in the end.
Savior, help us
to give up these sins
and take up your abundant life.
We pray in the holy name of Christ.
Amen.
Week 5: “I Give Up… What Used to Work”
Living God, we confess
to clinging to things
that drive us away from you:
we’re stuck in old patterns
and worn out ways of life
we can’t see the path out
our faith grows cold
and our hope falters.
Savior, help us
to give up these ways
and take up your abundant life.
We pray in the holy name of Christ.
Amen.
Week 6: “I Give Up… to Be Like Christ” (Palm Sunday)
Living God, we confess
to clinging to things
that drive us away from you:
we’re scared to truly give of ourselves
scared to love as sacrificially as you did
we wonder if we can toe the line
carrying your name but not your cross.
Savior, help us
to give up these ways
and take up your abundant life.
We pray in the holy name of Christ.
Amen.
Week 7: “I Give Up.. and I Get Up” (Easter)
Living God, we confess
to clinging to things
that drive us away from you:
we’re hesitant to embrace your power
reluctant to live the life you call us to
sluggish to rejoice
slow to share the gospel
and mired in all the ways that bog us down.
Savior, help us
to give up these things
and take up your abundant life.
Your abundant resurrection life.
We pray in the holy name of Christ.
Amen.
Deep Well Worship 