Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Liturgy: 11th Sunday after Pentecost, Ecclesiastes (August 13, 2023)

*You are welcome to use or adapt any of my resources for free, but I ask that you provide proper citation AND comment on this post to let me know.*

*Call to Worship (based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)


Leader: To everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
People: A time for mourning and a time for dancing.
Leader: A time for searching and a time for letting go.
People: A time for keeping silent and a time for speaking.
Leader: Now is the time to lift our voices:
People: Let us worship the Lord!


Call to Confession (based on Ecclesiastes 1:9)

Leader: We admit our wrongdoing each week because we are powerless to change our sinful nature – whatever has happened before will happen again. So let us confess yet again, confident that God’s mercy is more persistent than even our sin.


Unison Prayer of Confession (based on Ecclesiastes 3)

People: Holy Wisdom, there truly is nothing new under the sun. We make the same mistakes and commit the same sins as those who came before us. We run ourselves ragged seeking the world’s approval instead of pursuing your will. We try to accumulate more and still more – more power, more wealth, more acclaim, more time – instead of finding joy in what we’ve been given. We replace your values with our own wickedness, and what’s worse, we arrogantly call it right and just. Forgive us, O Holy One. Help us to be satisfied serving your kindom and fulfilling your purposes instead of our own. In your mercy, hear our prayers…
(Silent prayers of personal confession)


Declaration of Forgiveness (based on Ecclesiastes 3:15)

Leader: Whatever happens has already happened, and whatever will happen has already happened before. We sin time and time again, yet God’s mercy has been given, and is given, and will be given as often as we seek it. In Christ, we are forgiven!
People: Thanks be to God!

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