Liturgy: Third Sunday of Easter, Acts 3:1-10 (April 14, 2024)

*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.*

Hymns:

Hymn GTG #451, “Open My Eyes, That I May See”
Hymn GTG #205, “Live in Charity”
Hymn GTG #320, “The Church of Christ in Every Age"

Hymn GTG #315, “In the Midst of New Dimensions"

*Call to Worship (based on Acts 3:1-10)

Leader: Every day, a man begs at the temple gates.
People: Every day, people walk by him, unseeing.
Leader: Until one day, he asks for help,
People: And he is seen, and heard, and healed.
Leader: Let us worship with eyes wide open to see God’s beloved around and among us.
People: Let us worship the Lord who created all, saves all, and loves all!

Call to Confession (based on Acts 3:3-5)

Leader: Confession is about more than asking for charity from God. It’s about connecting to God fully, with our whole selves – even the parts we’re ashamed of. Let us confess our sins not so that we might receive, but so that we might see and be seen by the one with the power to forgive all our sins.


Popcorn Prayer of Confession (based on Acts 3:2-3)

You are invited to speak a word or short phrase that describes a personal or collective sin of which you repent and seek forgiveness. When the gathered community is finished sharing, we pray together:

People: Lord of mercy, you dream of a kindom where all of your beloved creation works together for the common good, but humanity gets in your way. We establish systems that seem fair, but are not just. We fall into patterns that seem normal, but are not right. We offer assistance that seems helpful, but is not sustainable. Forgive us, O Lord, and open our eyes to see a better way – your way. In your mercy, hear our prayers… (Silent prayers of personal confession)

Declaration of Forgiveness (based on Acts 3:6)

Leader: If we seek silver or gold along the path of discipleship, we will be disappointed. If, however, what we seek is wholeness of spirit, then we shall find it in abundance! Hear this good news: In Jesus Christ, we are all forgiven!
People: Thanks be to God!