We'll be using prayers from the Methodist Church in Britain each Sunday in Lent.
As Christians use the Lent period to prepare themselves for God's great act of self-giving on Calvary, Dr. Deidre Homer, a Methodist local preacher in training (British Methodist Church), reflects on the need for Christians to undertake their own self-giving - responding to God's activity in the world by acting on behalf of those around us. Prayer of Confession
Forgive us Lord for our apathy,
for our lack of courage to speak out.
Forgive us when we walk past and don't offer help.
Forgive us when we get it wrong.
We confess that we are afraid -
we don't want to overcome our hidden doubts and prejudices
in order to be alongside those who are different from ourselves.
We ask that you would lead us into action:
give us strength to be a voice crying for justice and peace.
Help us to step into another person's shoes,
or if they have no shoes
then not to be afraid to take off our own,
peel off our preconceptions and assumptions,
uncurl and spread out our toes, and
tread in their footprints.
May we be a liberating presence
and offer love, compassion and whatever is needed
to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.
we don't want to overcome our hidden doubts and prejudices
in order to be alongside those who are different from ourselves.
We ask that you would lead us into action:
give us strength to be a voice crying for justice and peace.
Help us to step into another person's shoes,
or if they have no shoes
then not to be afraid to take off our own,
peel off our preconceptions and assumptions,
uncurl and spread out our toes, and
tread in their footprints.
May we be a liberating presence
and offer love, compassion and whatever is needed
to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.
No comments:
Post a Comment