Growing in the Wilderness
Prayers for the Second Sunday of Pentecost
June 18, 2017 

Call to Worship (inspired by Genesis 21:8-21)

	One:	The sun shines more brightly.
		It’s warmth stays with us for so many more hours.
	All:	So we shake free of our routines.
One:	We wander about the wilderness:
		Hoping God will open our eyes
		Praying God will make us worthy
		Wanting to grow with God.
All:	Let us grow together in the 
wild ways of our God.

Invocation (inspired by Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17)

	Wild God, you do great and wonderful things.
	It’s what makes you our God.
	There is nothing else in this world like you.
	There’s nothing else like your love.
	Wild God, come and worship with us.
	Help us to grow in your love.

Prayer of Confession (inspired by Genesis 21:8-21)

	Set up a worship space with a bare branch resting on a table or potted in a vessel on the floor. Next to the branch, place a basket of small strips of white cloth beside a few sharpies. Prepare this worship space so that there is room for 2 or 3 people to write their confessions upon a hard surface at the same time.

The pastor or worship leader offers this invitation verbally:
Abraham was very distressed.
Because his son was cut out. 
Because Sarah could no longer tolerate Hagar.
So Sarah threw her out into the wilderness.
And this is distressing. We are distressed whenever relationships are broken.
Still, we confess to God that there are family and friends we have cast out.
Knowing this, you are invited to offer your silent confession to God by taking one of the small strips of cloth, writing the name of someone you have left behind in the wilderness and tie it to this branch.

Print these words in the bulletin:
You are invited to offer your silent confession to God by taking one of the small strips of cloth, writing the name of someone you have left behind in the wilderness and tie it to the bare branch.
	
Sung Words of Assurance 			Blessed Be the Tie That Binds, TNCH 393

Invitation to the Offering 

Our Wild God has helped and comforted us.
And it is so good! We will not be distressed. Not anymore!
We will work in this goodness to mend every broken branch on our family tree.
We will use our gifts, tithes and offerings to rebuild the body of Christ.
Let us give to the family that nurtures us in new growth.

Dedication Prayer

Grow these gifts in your love, Wild God.
Bless our offerings, our hearts and our hopes in your love 
To make us worthy of your work in this world.
Fill these gifts and each of us with your goodness. Amen.
 
Benediction

Have another two baskets with small strips of white cloth like those used in the Prayer of Confession. Distribute these strips among the congregation during the last hymn before offering this blessing.

Beloved in Christ, into your hands, God gives strength and worth. 
Take this strip of cloth to mend the broken relationships in the body of Christ.
Wander into this wild world full of God’s steadfast love.
For you, dear servant, were made for this love.
Go in this deep peace.

Written by the Rev. Elsa A. Cook, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, a budding spiritual director and wandering interim minister. She writes liturgies and shares her thoughts on cookingwithelsa.org.

Copyright 2017 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.