Tag: Amos

Justice Prayer

Jesus when you said

Justice would roll down

like water….

Did you mean

that it would

trickle first

down my face as a tear

of compassion?

Or will it truly unleash?

Like the dams of injustice

finally breaking through…

I want to know,

because I am thirsting for Jesus

Like a deer in the desert–

and when I look for justice,

I find rules or civility or equality

or some other thing,

that we humans think is justice,

but it isn’t really.

So here’s a prayer for justice,

the big kind, that washes away everything else.

So here’s a prayer for justice, the rip-roaring kind,

full of righteousness, and grace and hope.

Even if it has to start as a trickle,

Because, you and I know God,

I will take all the justice I can get.

So here’s a prayer for all the justice,

any of the justice we can find today, and everyday.

Please God,

Thank you.

Amen.

Feel free to use/adapt/share with permission of Pastor Katy Stenta

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Nov 14 Amos: Justice Rolls Down

Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24

John 7:37-38

Call to Worship (John 7:37-38)

Jesus says, let anyone who is thirsty come

Here we are, thirsting for the Lord

Scripture says, all who believes can drink

Come, out of our hearts, let the rivers of living water flow!

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we are thirsting for you, so thirsty that we are dry to the bone. We are uncertain that justice will flow. We do not know if there are even drips of justice in the world. We confess, that we don’t know if justice will flow like water–but we also confess that we long for that day. Help us to not give up our justice seeking we pray.

Assurance of Pardon: Jesus promises that Jesus will make all things right, so we can proclaim to one another the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God sometimes we feel like our offerings are not enough, we’d rather give you big festivals or more solemn worship services–but you ask us to simply seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your. Help us to do that today we pray. Amen.

Hymns: Be Thou My Vision, Crown Him with Many Crowns, We are One in the Spirit, Best Be the Tie that Binds, Come Live the Light, For Everyone Born, Live Into Hope

Children: Thirsty, discuss how we are often thirsty before we even know it and that we really need water to drink, that is how we need justice. Talk about how justice is not just equality or sameness, its the nutrients we need, and that every single body needs something different, and that Jesus knows that.

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Justice Rolls Down: A Prayer

More Narrative Lectionary Year 4