These confessional prayers were created to accompany the Epiphany sermon series “Servant.” The bolded words are spoken by the congregation. 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
Saving God, we confess to carelessness
that tramples on those already bent low
and brushes by those who are just hanging on.
We confess to not trusting
that you will give us strength
to do the hard work that must be done
when we submit to your service.
Give us vision; give us hope; give us persistence:
to see our way to serving your people
that all may have life
and life abundant. Amen.
Week 2
Lord, forgive us
when we are through with you.
When we say “we quit”
when we think “good enough”
when we ask “are we done?”
Remind us that you are never through with us.
Renew our hope and energize us;
give us trust in your promises,
that we might serve you faithfully
in ways great and small
all of our days. Amen.
Week 3
Jesus Christ, forgive us
when we close our hearts
to the joy you offer us.
When service seems like a chore,
and loving others a burden,
renew our souls.
Make of us eager disciples,
excited to say “yes”
to be servants of our serving Lord.
In your holy name we pray. Amen.
Week 4
Merciful Lord, we confess to treating our neighbors like an afterthought;
to giving those who suffer most
only the dregs of our time, energy, and resources;
to listing dangerously towards judgment
and withholding compassion.
Break our hearts again for what breaks yours.
Guide us to the hungry, the helpless, and the hurting;
show us how to love with your reckless abandon,
and teach us to be discontent with the world as it is,
striving instead for the wholeness of your kingdom.
We pray in the name of your son, who embodied justice,
loved kindness, and walked humbly with you. Amen.
Week 5
Creator God,
you have formed us and known us,
each precious gift and each sin and shortcoming.
Knowing your greatness and the vastness of the work,
we often feel unworthy to serve you.
We are promised that you delight in a humble heart.
But at times we weaponize that unworthiness.
We make it an excuse to do nothing.
You call, and we rush to say “we can’t,”
“we’re not good enough,” “we’re not ready.”
Scrape the tar of unworthiness from our souls,
that we may see clearly that we are called just as we are,
and grow into the courage to serve you daily. Amen.
Week 6
Holy and merciful God, we confess
we are quick to take sides
and slow to reconcile
quick to desire credit
and slow to give you glory
quick to demand service
slow to serve others
quick to quarrel and complain
slow to show forth grace.
Help us grow up, Lord
into the kind of people
who are coworkers in your ministry,
people of constant, steady love.
Amen.
Deep Well Worship 