Confession Cycle: Still With Us

These unison confessional prayers were created to accompany the sermon series “Still With Us” 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.”

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Week 1: “The Promise of Presence“

Savior God, forgive our doubts and disbelief.
You show up in our lives,
yet we fail to notice you
and demand more proof.
We expect more when you have already given us enough.
Forgive our lack of faith.
Forgive our lack of gratitude.
Redeem us. Restore us.
Resurrect us for life in Christ. Amen.

Week 2: “The Promise of a Companion”

Jesus, Teacher, we confess today
to outright foolishness. 
We have been foolish to doubt your promises.
Foolish to withhold love from neighbor. 
Foolish to chase riches, prestige, and power.
Foolish to waste your gifts and spoil your creation. 
Foolish to divide your children from each other.
Foolish to think hope is lost. 
Wise us up again. 
Open our hearts to your presence
in our lives, in our neighbors, in our world.
In your grace, help us grab onto
our millionth second chance,
and forge a new road from here on. Amen.

Week 3: “The Promise of a Guardian”

Savior God, you beckon us,
but we do not heed your call.
You gather us, but we wander away,
losing ourselves in false and superficial comforts.
You speak truth, but we fail to hear and respond.
Good Shepherd, do not give up on us.
Grace our stubborn hearts with your mercy,
and give us all we need in you. Amen.

Week 4: “The Promise of a Way Home”

Guiding Christ, you are our way,
our truth, and our life.
Yet we insist on our own way.
We believe we don’t really need you.
We believe we can be smarter,
stronger, more independent.
We believe we can compartmentalize
our faith from our daily life and actions.
Forgive our arrogance.
Teach us to merge our whole life
with your abundant life,
and to be guided by you
all the way home.
Amen.

Week 5: “The Promise of an Advocate”

Loving Christ, we confess
that our all-consuming pursuit of independence
too often ends in isolation.
We have refused aid—
both from our neighbors and from you.
We have refused to aid—
both our neighbors, and your mission.
We have mistaken advocacy for interference,
and superiority for support.
Call us back, Lord. Teach us anew.
Give us strength to be your voice of love
to a hurting world. Amen. 

Week 6: “The Promise of Power”

Merciful God, forgive us
when “out of sight, out of mind”
becomes our way of life;
when we are forgetful of you,
or neighbors in need,
or the parts of our own lives that need attention.
Make us ever mindful of your presence
in all its different forms,
that we might spend all our days with you. Amen.