Call to Worship

Children of God, when we witness the needs of strangers and listen to the struggles of our friends, remember:

Let mutual love continue.

When we hear the struggles of those in prison and recognize the suffering of people near and far, remember:

Let mutual love continue.

When temptations to hoard more money, more power, and more influence surround us on every side, remember:

Let mutual love continue.

As we gather for worship, remember: God is here among us, surrounding us with love and forming us to live in love everywhere we go.

We choose to cooperate with God’s love today and every day so that mutual love will continue wherever we go and whatever we do. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, March 2024.

Prayer for the Day

In the face of all our realities:
We are the people who heal each other,
who grow strong together,
who name the truth,
who know what it means to live in community,
moving toward a common dream
for a new heaven and a new earth.
In the power of the love of God our Creator,
The company of Jesus Christ,
And the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Adapted from the people of Pitt Street Uniting Church (Sydney, Australia), Prayers Encircling the World: An International Anthology (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998), 212.

Prayer of Confession

Knowing that our God journeys with us in our confusion,
our doubts, our failings, our struggles,
we now come humbly before God to ask for mercy.

For the times we fail to offer hospitality
to those in our world who suffer injustice, oppression, and poverty, we pray:
God, have mercy on us and your people

For the times we lack courage to address the causes
of injustice, oppression, and poverty, we pray to our God:
God, have mercy on us and on your people.

For the times we give in to despair and resignation
when confronted with the injustice of our world, we pray to our God:
God, have mercy on us and on your people.

For the times we allow our fears to triumph
over the call to solidarity, we pray to our God:
God, have mercy on us and on your people.

Merciful God, receive our petitions.
Heal the brokenness in our hearts and in our world
caused by injustice, indifference, selfishness, and fear.
Open our hearts to hear the cries of your suffering people.
Support us as we seek to respond in mutual love and hospitality. Amen.

Adapted from Offering Hospitality to Refugees, compiled by Loreto Conroy. Posted on https://www.crcna.org/. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/07/prayer-of-confession-hospitality.html.

Benediction

Children of God, go from this place in the blessing of the Triune God, our Helper and our Friend, offering your sacrifice of praise and sharing what you have as you spread the love of God in mutuality and care to the ends of the earth and back again. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, March 2025.