An Affirmation of Faith for Lent
We believe in God the creator of heaven and earth, the giver of light and truth, life and breath. We believe that nothing can separate us from the grace, love and mercy of God who never hesitates to forgive the repentant heart.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God in human vesture, who desired to be in this life with us, reaching out to love us into new life. We believe that he took upon himself our sin and regret carrying these to the cross, where he gave himself unto eternity for our sakes. This was his ultimate gift to us. We believe that his death was not the end, and that he will come again one day.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who speaks a fiery, passionate truth to all people, in every language. Our hearts are warmed and we become the living proof of God’s transforming presence. We believe that we are the church, the body of Christ called to serve and to make a difference in God’s world.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious and Everliving God, you know us inside and out, our needs, wants and desires; our hopes and dreams. You know every one of our better thoughts, as well as our more malicious ones. On this second Sunday of our Lenten journey, we confess our unease with the call to be among those changed and transformed during these 40 days. Yet, we comprehend that, like maturing physically, there are growing pains that accompany spiritual maturity. When things go wrong in the world, in our relationships or in our lives, often our first instinct is to look for something or someone to blame, even if it is ourselves. Stay our thoughts from resentment and blame when we are disappointed in our neighbors, our children, our partners or our friends. Help us, Lord, to tap into the ever flowing stream that is your patience and grace. We pray in the name of the Christ. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
My hairdresser told me a story the other day about one of his clients who wanted to be a redhead instead of a blonde. He said “Sure” and when they were done with her hair transformation she was delighted. She felt like a new woman. The following day the client’s husband called furious about the change. “What did you do to my wife’s hair?” Art answered: “The point is we are talking about your wife’s hair not yours.” When something or someone doesn’t look, today, the way they did yesterday we can get a bit nervous. Let us remember that God was doing something very new and different in Jesus Christ and that turned out well for all of us.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Lord, Bless these tithes and gifts. We offer them with grateful hearts. Transform them into instruments of peace, liberty, rescue and goodwill. We pray that they will, with your blessing, bring light into someone’s darkness and new life to those who have known only despair. May the work of our hands, the prayers of our hearts, and all that we are witness to your unreserved presence in our lives. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
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