These unison confessional prayers were created to accompany the sermon series “Let’s Party: A Tour through the Bible’s Best Celebrations.” 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: “Let’s Party”
Wild Spirit, forgive us for the times
we have been sneering and standoffish
to see you at work in the world.
Forgive us when we have resisted your call,
shut our doors to new expressions of community,
and shuddered away from your delightful disorder.
Rile up the church one more time,
that we might be filled with faith and confidence,
in a way our neighbors can hear and believe. Amen.
Week 2: “God’s Guest List”
Merciful Christ, in your life you showed us true hospitality.
Yet we jostle for position and power,
prize relationships that give us the best return,
and glut ourselves on the backs of those in need.
Remind us once more that we are called
not to the highest places but the lowest;
called to walk with you in unexpected places;
called to invite in the most unexpected guests.
In your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Week 3: “God’s Invitation“
God of grace, forgive your church
for the times we cloaked your teachings in fear, guilt, and shame.
Forgive us when we have loved our own ideals
more than we have loved our neighbors.
Forgive us when we have preferred judgement to joy.
Breathe your Spirit into us again,
that we might be a church that celebrates your grace
and shares it with anyone who could use a little
of that infinite, transforming love you offer us.
Amen.
Week 4: “Why God Parties”
Jesus Christ, we made mistakes
and we are sorry.
We didn’t love you like we meant to.
We didn’t treat our family and friends right.
We didn’t help people around us.
But we want to.
Help us to get up and be brave and try again
to love you, and ourselves,
and all the people we meet.
Amen.
Week 5: “God’s Potluck”
Merciful Lord, forgive us our fear.
We do not think there will be enough
so we hoard far more than what we require
turn away from our neighbor in need
measure out people’s worthiness to receive.
Help us to find ways to live
so that everyone has what they need
so that we trust in your generosity
so that we are freed from our fear and worry.
Living bread, feed us with forgiveness and courage,
and in our turn, teach us to feed the world.
In your name we pray. Amen.
Week 6: “Party On”
God of eternity, forgive us
when we have asked you for crumbs,
not trusting that your goodness
is richer and greater and sweeter
than anything we can imagine.
Forgive us when we have justified
leaving only crumbs for our neighbor,
as if we will never have to see them again,
as if we are not bound up in you.
Forgive us when we are content with only a little faith
and a faith that does only a little good.
Sweep us into the feast of the heavens,
and give us holy discontent
until everyone has a reason to celebrate.
In your name we pray. Amen.
Deep Well Worship 