Roy Berkenbosch

This confession and assurance litany originally appeared in "Rattling Heaven's Doors—Week 6: For Yours Is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory Forever. Amen."Prayer of ConfessionLike Jerusalem, O Christ, our sin must cause you to weep: For we confess, the things that make for peace are hidden from our eyes.We seek your mercy.Your house of prayer for all the nations, we have made a den of robbers.God, forgive us.With the crowds, we shout hosanna, little knowing who you really are.Christ, show us grace.Assurance of PardonDo not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt! (John 12:17)Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! (John 12:13)This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!Hear the promise of this servant king: “Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” —Mark 11:23–24 NRSVUERevised Common LectionaryYear B: Lent—Liturgy of the Palms

This call to worship originally appeared in "Rattling Heaven's Doors—Week 6: For Yours Is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory Forever. Amen."Opening LitanyWe gather on this day to celebrate God’s everlasting power: our Maker, ever creating. Christ on a donkey, our King. Holy Spirit, brooding over the world.Holy, Holy, Holy, One God Almighty, your glory fills all the heavens and the earth!Song“O Lord, Hear My Prayer” (st. 2) BerthierSilenceWe wrestle God in prayer, as Christ taught:Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

This sending originally appeared in "Rattling Heaven's Doors—Week 4: Forgive Us Our Debts, as We Also Have Forgiven Our Debtors."We Go ForthWe thank you, gracious God, for forgiving our trespasses against you and against each other; for restoring the boundaries we trample, heedless of respect, care, or consideration; for paying our debt.We thank you for giving us the way to try again, the means to extend our hands and cross the boundaries to one another—and to you.We are indebted to you, O God, for each gift in our lives.Help us to forgive debts and mend what is broken; give us all new hearts. Amen.

This sending originally appeared in "Rattling Heaven's Doors—Week 3: Give Us Today Our Daily Bread."We Go ForthGo into the world with faith, hope and love, knowing that God hears our petitions.Let us recommit ourselves daily: hallowing God’s name, doing God’s will, bringing God’s kingdom to earth.Seek bread for the people living next to us, for those who are suffering, for those who are hungry.Let us never tire of working and praying for the daily bread that all of humanity and all of creation need.

This prayer of confession originally appeared in "Rattling Heaven's Doors—Week 3: Give Us Today Our Daily Bread."Prayer of Confession Leader:We confess, God, that we have hoarded and misused the bread you so generously send. Reader 1:We have carelessly paved over places that are better suited for growing food and sustaining life; Reader 2:we have poisoned waters better used for drinking; Reader 1:we have polluted the air your creation breathes every day. All:Forgive us, nurturing God. Reader 2:Give us open eyes to see the way of renewal. Reader 1:Give us open hands to share abundantly. All:Give us faith to know that you hold every day in your hands.Song“I Am the Bread of Life”(st. 1-2, 4)ToolanLeader:Surely, God is the eternal giver of bread, the One Source of everlasting life. Come, feast freely in that grace. Men:Today we open ourselves to the power of bread freely given in our lives and our world. Women: Today we extend our hands in caring toward humanity.

This opening of worship litany originally appeared in "Rattling Heaven's Doors—Week 3: Give Us Today Our Daily Bread."Opening LitanyLeader:On this day, we step boldly, humbly into the presence of our God, praying with our suffering Savior the prayer he taught us to pray: All:Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Leader:With voices around the world, we call: All:Give bread! Leader:Give us today our daily bread: Reader 1:This day, God, people are hungry— Reader 2:Children lie down at night with empty stomachs. Reader 1:People everywhere search with broken hearts. All:We are hungry for justice and mercy, for peace and compassion. Leader:We call out for daily bread, for daily needs: Reader 1:for water that flows pure from a mountain, Reader 2:for air that blows clean across the prairies, Reader 1:for foods planted, tended, harvested, and shared, Reader 2:for land and sky filled with life and renewal, Reader 1:for governments that are just, Reader 2:for homes that are places of rest and play, Reader 1:for families, friends, partners, neighbors who walk with us, comfort us, love us . . . All:Give people everywhere their living Bread.

This sending originally appeared in "Rattling Heaven's Doors—Week 2: Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done on Earth as it Is in Heaven."We Go ForthGo into the world with faith, hope, and love, knowing that God hears our petitions.Let us recommit ourselves to working diligently for God’s creation, for the people living next to us, for those who are suffering in this world.Let us never tire of working and praying for God’s kingdom to unfold in all its glory.Your will be done!

This prayer of confession originally appeared in "Rattling Heaven's Doors—Week 2: Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done on Earth as it Is in Heaven."Prayer of ConfessionWe confess, God of heaven and earth, that our fears and our insecurities, our pride and our stubbornness lead us away from your kingdom.We fail to see the beauty and the complexity of your world . . . the people, cultures, languages, geographies that you have woven together.Give us open eyes to see the world as it is and to see ourselves as we are.Give us hope to continue believing in what you intend us all to be.We come to you, bowed by the evidence of earth torn and heaven scorned. Yet you will make both new. Encircle us and our world with your healing won through sacrifice.Extend to us your cord of life, assure us of your forgiveness, and give us the courage to call your kingdom near.On earth as it is in heaven!We are your family, your image on earth, friends, brothers, sisters of Christ. One world community with Christ as our center.

This litany for the opening of worship originally appeared in "Rattling Heaven's Doors—Week 2: Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done on Earth as it Is in Heaven."Opening LitanyFor this litany, you will need a small chorus of "voices"—a group smaller than the congregation. The effect can likely be acheived with anywhere from 3–10 people.Leader:On this day, we step boldly, humbly into the presence of our God, praying with our suffering Savior the prayer he taught us to pray: All:Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Leader:With voices around the world we call: All:May your kingdom come! Voices:To those who are hungry,those who are weeping,those who are despairing,those who suffer from wars,those who have waited centuries for a truly human life. Leader:Grant us hope that will strengthen our resolve to work for this world, despite so many conflicts, threats, and shortcomings. All:We acknowledge that much is broken, and yet we believe in working for renewal, for justice and peace. Voices: May the earth shine in its beauty, in its ability to heal. All:May we see possibilities before us. Leader:Grant us vision . . . All:that we may boldly add our voices to a story unfolding through history: the coming of God’s kingdom. Leader:Grant us courage to do your will—at all times, in all places, for all people. All:May your kingdom come like a spring rain, like streams running to rivers.SilenceA time of reflectionSong“The Lord’s Prayer” (st. 1–3) 

This prayer of confession originally appeared in "Rattling Heaven's Doors—Week 1: Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed Be Your Name."Prayer of ConfessionWe confess that we are a brokenhearted people, unable to change.We do not hallow your name in your children, made in your image, who go to school hungry or not at all, in the emotionally and mentally fragile who walk the streets alone.We confess that we are a brokenhearted people.We do not hallow your name in children sent to war, in the elderly left homeless, in our inability to forgive.We do not hallow your name or each other—the ones who sit or walk beside us without hope.We are a broken people.Song“How I Have Longed” WinterWe bring our broken lives to you, the One who hallows life. Encircle us with your healing, won through sacrifice, with your many-colored cord of grace.Extend to us this cord of life, assure us of your forgiveness, and give us the courage to honor the holiness of your hallowed name.Holy is your Name!We are threads bound together in that name: friends, brothers, sisters of Christ. A hundred hands, held together and washed by the blood of the lamb.