Pentecost 14b

L       You must understand this, my beloved: be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. (James 1:19,22) Let us confess the ways we fail to be doers of the word.

Time for confession and reflection

L          O Lord, who may dwell on your holy hill?

C        Those who do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander or do evil to their neighbors (Psalm 15:1-3)

L       Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change… he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. (James 1:17-18)

Pentecost 13b

L       Take up the whole armor of God so that having done everything you will stand firm. (Ephesians 6:13) Let us confess the ways we fail to stand firm.

Silence is kept for confession and reflection

L       Then the people answered,

C       “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; we will serve the Lord who is our God." (Joshua 34:16, 18)

L       The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and God's ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry and the Lord hears them and delivers them from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:15, 17)

Pentecost 12b

L        Who among you takes pleasure in life…? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from lying words. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:12-14) Let us confess the ways we fail to pursue peace.

Silence is kept for confession and reflection

L       Let us be careful how we live.

C         (With wisdom we will) lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight. (Proverbs 9:6)

L       (Therefore) sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19-20)

Pentecost 11b

L       ...do not grieve the Holy Spirit… (but) put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:30-32) Let us confess the ways we grieve the Holy Spirit.

Silence is kept for confession and reflection

L         Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD;

C       I will bless the Lord at all times and the praise of God shall ever be in my mouth. (Psalm 34:1, 3)

L       Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Pentecost 10b

L        …lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3) Let us confess the ways we fail to live a life worthy of the calling to which we have been called.

Silence is kept for confession and reflection

L        We confess and believe

C       There is one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

L        The gifts he gave were… to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Pentecost 9b

L       All your works shall praise you, O Lord, and your faithful ones shall bless you. (Psalm 145:10) Let us confess the ways in which our lives fail to bless and praise God.

Silence is kept for confession and reflection

L       The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord,

C       You are righteous in all your ways, loving in all your works and always near to those who call upon you faithfully. (Psalm 145:15, 17-18)

L       (You) shall tell of the glory and power of God’s kingdom, for it is an everlasting kingdom and the dominion of the Lord endures throughout all ages. (Psalm 145:11, 13)

Pentecost 8b

L          “…remember that you were once without Christ… having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:12-13) Let us confess the ways we continue to live far off from Christ.

Silence is kept for confession and reflection

L          The Lord is my shepherd;

C         I shall not want (for) you restore my soul, O Lord, and guide me along right pathways for your name's sake. (Psalm 23:1, 3)

L          …you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:19-20)