Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Watch or 7:51

Generous God
You invite us to sit at the table with your Son,
A table of plenty, and a table of justice.
You feed us, and offer us a place with him.

Jesus, guest and host
You ask us to prepare a meal for you,
You sit with us, knowing us for who we truly are.
You offer us bread and wine, and your whole self.

Spirit who moves among us,
You come again and again, as we remember and repeat this meal,
Making the past present,
Connecting us with all those who have gone before us.

We adore you.

Forgive us, when we do not accept your invitation,
When we do not take up the seat at your table.
Forgive us, when we do not make a place for others to join us,
When make them feel on the outer.
Forgive us, when we do not live in your love,
When we do not create tables of justice and plenty.

Amen

Word of Grace
Siblings in Christ.
God invites us to the table, regardless of what we bring.
Jesus welcomes us, and serves us all.
And so we can say with confidence our sin is forgiven
Thanks be to God.

Kirsty Bennett, offered for worship 05/03/2023, Lent 2A

Prayers of the people

Watch or 52:14

As we gather around this table, we pray for the world, the church, and those in our community who are in need.

We pray for a world that welcomes all – an extended, open table.
We pray for all those who have been excluded
when they should be embraced with open arms.
May our country, our city, our churches, our schools, our workplaces,
and our homes be places of welcome for all.

We pray for those whose tables are bare – where even a daily meal is a struggle,
whether due to war, earthquake, famine, or poverty.
We pray for all those providing aid to those who hunger.
May food be shared, enough for all.

We pray for those with empty chairs at their table –
for those who are grieving, for those who are lonely,
for those with no time to rest at table with friends.
May they find community and space for friendship to grow.

We pray for communion tables all around the world –
for those who prepare the meal, who set the table, who serve the bread and wine.
May this table be a place where wounds are healed,
where faith is renewed, and where your love is shared with all.

Natalie Sims, offered for worship 05/03/2023, Lent 2A