Prayer of Confession
O Lord, we have not longed for your coming as our only hope.
We have not lived as citizens of your kingdom as we should.
We have chosen easy belief instead of the fellowship of Your cross.

We have made this world our treasure,
giving our hearts to the creation, instead of You, the Creator.
We are callous to the needs of the poor, the lonely and the suffering.
We have not cried out for justice.
We do not grieve for those who are without Christ in a dying world.

Forgive our offenses and sins
By the Holy Spirit fill us with the light and life in Christ.
In our weakness may Your grace witness to Christ's glory.

Assurance of Pardon
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in our humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15

Order of Worship, January 16 2011

Grace Presbyterian Church

All of your life an unattainable ecstasy has hovered just beyond the grasp of your consciousness.  The day is coming when you will wake to find, beyond all hope, that you have attained it, or else, that it was within your reach and you have lost it forever.

C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

Order of Worship, April 15 2007

Redeemer Presbyterian Church of New Orleans

True freedom arises, not in our loud assertion of individual independence, but in our being linked to a true story.

Stanley Hauerwas, Resident Aliens

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

      and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, 

      and thick darkness the peoples; 

but the Lord will arise upon you, 

      and his glory will be seen upon you.  

And nations shall come to your light,

      and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Lift up your eyes all around, and see;

      they all gather together, they come to you; 

your sons shall come from far, 

      and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. 

Then you shall see and be radiant; 

      your heart shall thrill and exult, 

because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,

      the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 

A multitude of camels shall cover you,

      the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

      all those from Sheba shall come.

They shall bring gold and frankincense,

      and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.

Isaiah 60:1-6 (ESV)

Order of Worship, January 7 2007

Redeemer Presbyterian Church of New Orleans