Bones and Red Hills, by Georgia O'Keefe

Here is the prayer of confession and assurance of pardon I wrote for our worship this coming Sunday.  I use imagery from  both the Old Testament and Gospel texts for this week: Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 11:1-45.  These scripture passages are so, so powerful.  I’m seriously considering skipping the sermon and just telling these amazing stories.  As always, you are welcome to use this prayer in your own worship setting.  I always appreciate hearing from those who find my offerings helpful.

Prayer of Confession (Lent 5, Year A)

O God,
We see the desolate valley scattered with utterly dry bones.
We mourn before the tomb, sealed with solid stone.
We cannot imagine the sinews, the flesh, the skin covering the bones.
We are sure that the body in the tomb is slowly decomposing.

We confess our lack of faith.
We confess our hopelessness.
We confess our fears that death is more powerful than life.
We confess our failure to breathe deeply your life-giving breath.

Have mercy on us, O God.

Assurance of Pardon

This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. The promise of God has been fulfilled in Christ Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life. It is through Christ that our sins are forgiven. May the peace of Christ be with you.