Kenneth D. Koeman

Prayer of ConfessionOur Father, forgive us for downsizing you in our minds—for thinking small thoughts of you, and for ignoring your immensity and greatness. Lord Jesus, forgive us when we forget that you rule the nations and our small lives. Holy Spirit, we offend you in minimizing your power and squandering your gifts. O triune God,We confess that our blindness to your gloryhas resulted in shallow confession, tepid conviction, and only mild repentance. Have mercy upon us. In Jesus' name, Amen.Revised Common LectionaryYears A, B, C: Season after Pentecost—Trinity Sunday

Call to WorshipAs we are called into worship today, it is sobering to remember that when God appeared on earth in the person of Jesus, most of the world did not recognize him and therefore did not worship him. Today we ask for the faith that will open our eyes to see Jesus for who he is, that we might worship him in truth. People of God, behold and see your God!We open our eyes to see his glory. We open our ears to hear his wisdom. We open our hands to offer him gifts. We open our mouths to sing his praise. We open our hearts to offer him our love. He is Lord!Revised Common LectionaryYear A - Season after Pentecost - Proper 16 (21)Year B - Season after Pentecost - Proper 19 (24)

Prayer of ConfessionThere are times I think I love you well, O God. But upon hearing your call to love you with all my heart, and all my mind, and all my strength, I confess that my love for you is a diluted love, made insipid and flat by lesser loyalties and a divided heart. My love seems pure only for brief moments; soon my affections are drawn away. How easily my devotion dies. Forgive me; in deep mercy, spare me despite my lost first love for you; in grace, rekindle my love for you by seeing anew Jesus' love for me. Amen.Revised Common LectionaryYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 25 (30)Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 26 (31)Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 10 (15) 

Call to WorshipThe eternal Father, who loved us and set us free from our sins, who loves us still with that love that will not let us go, and who will love us forever, calls us to worship him today as the only true lover of our souls. He stoops to receive the love of our poor hearts. He calls us to remember the depth of his love for us in Christ. He seeks our love!Revised Common LectionaryYear B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 12 (17)Year C: Easter—Second Sunday of Easter

Prayer of ConfessionLord, in your mercy hear our prayer. We confess that it is all too easy for us to sacrifice our convictions for convenience, your standards for status, your principles for promotion, your absolutes for our ambition, our souls for shallow and unsatisfying success. How easily we are seduced by power, prestige, pleasure, or possessions—seduced into violating our integrity or harming our fellowship with you. From earth's fullest bliss we turn to you again, unfulfilled. Forgive us our half-hearted devotion and our double-minded spirit. In the name of him who refused to save himself we pray. Amen.

Call to WorshipThe Lord who calls us to worship him today is the same Jesus who refused the temptation to worship the evil one. Rather than receive the glorious kingdoms of this world, he endured the shame of the cross, and today is Lord of lords and King of kings. Now are gathered in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, glory and power.With the saints of all ages we say "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"—Revelation 5:12 NIVRevised Common LectionaryYears A, B, C: Lent—First Sunday in LentYear C: Easter—Third Sunday of Easter

People of God, worship the living God today! Remember that out of nothing he created the heavens and the earth. Remember that he raised Jesus from the impotence of death to the power of his right hand. Remember that not even the gates of hell can stand against his purposes. Behold your God, who reigns now and forever! 

I should have known better. It was, granted, quite a strange request. Almost bizarre. But I thought I could work with it. I thought that perhaps it could be made into something meaningful; something, in fact, faithful to God’s Word. Besides, it was a garden wedding—an informal setting compared to a sanctuary. Perhaps in that context it just might communicate.

It's fall. You are already noticing the Christmas catalogues showing up in your mailbox. Though school has barely begun, your calendar tells you it is time to plan for Advent and Christmas. And the very thought of it makes you tremble just a little.