This week we asked our bloggers to share a liturgy they’ve crafted.
One: Have mercy upon us O God, according to your unfailing love.
ALL: Where is the place for the hopeless sinner?
One: According to your great compassion blot out our transgressions.
ALL: Where is the place for the hopeless sinner, who has hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs?
One: Wash away all our iniquity and cleanse us from my sin.
ALL: Give us one love, O God, give us one heart. Give us one love and one heart.
One: Cleanse us with hyssop, and we will be clean.
ALL: O God, hear your children cryin’, hear your children cryin.’
One: Wash us and we will be whiter than snow.
ALL: Give thanks to the Lord and we will feel all right. Let’s get together, O Lord and we will feel all right.
One: Create in us a clean heart, O God.
ALL: Give us one love, O God. Give us one heart.
One: Renew a steadfast spirit within us.
ALL: Have pity on your children whose chances grow thinner, Lord.
One: Restore unto us the joy of your salvation.
ALL: As one love was in the beginning, so one love will be in the end.
One: Grant us willing spirits, O God, and sustain us.
ALL: Give thanks and praise to our Lord and we will feel all right. Give thanks and praise to our Lord and we will feel all right. Amen.
This short confession of sin uses direct quotes from Psalm 51 and quotes inspired by Bob Marley and the Wailers’ classic song “One Love.” The author hereby grants permission to use this work in appropriate settings.
Leon Bloder is a preacher, a poet, a would-be writer, a husband, a father, a son, a dreamer, a sinner, a pastor, a fellow-traveler and a failed artist. He is talentless, but well-connected. He stumbles after Jesus, but hopes beyond hope that he is stumbling in the right direction. Leon has been married to Merideth for 22 years, is the father of three awesome boys, and serves in ministry at the First Presbyterian Church of Eustis in Eustis, Florida.
