Opening Litany and confession for the 25th

Opening Litany
Psalm 126 (New International Version)

Pastor: When the LORD brought back the Babylonian captives to Zion after so many years, they were like children in a dreamland. They said in one voice, “Our mouths are filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.”

Congregation: Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." And we as the children of God in this day know that the LORD has done great things for us, and because of that we too are filled with childlike joy.

Pastor: Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev desert. Let those who sow in tears reap with songs of joy.

Congregation: Let those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, return with songs of joy, carrying the harvest sheaves with them.

Prayers of Confession and Forgiveness
Philippians 3:4-14 (The Message)

Pastor: 2-6 The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Philippi, Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they're interested in is appearances—knife-happy circumcisers, I call them. The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ's praise as we do it. We couldn't carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God's law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God's law Book.

7-9 The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God's righteousness.

All: All too often, I think I connect with the word and the will of God, and the next thing I know, wham, I find myself deeply involved in things that don’t matter. I want to throw out the rules about religion and exchange them for a relationship with Jesus. But I must admit, I find comfort and a sense of control in the rules. Forgive me Lord and guide me onto the path toward a loving relationship with you. Amen

(Silence for confession and reflection.)

Song in Prayer

I want Jesus to walk with me wov 660

Pastor: 10-11 Give up all that inferior stuff and learn to know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, do it.

Focused on the Goal
12-14 I'm not saying that you have to have this all together, that you have it made. But be on your way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for you. Friends, you don’t have to count yourself as an expert in all of this, but keep your eye on the goal, where God is beckoning you onward—to Jesus. So You are forgiven, be off and running, and no turning back