Southern Ohio District Church of the Brethren

Reflections from our District Executive

A Prayer of Confession and Words of Assurance 

Confession
God of Mercy and Grace,
you come to us in Jesus of Nazareth
to break down the dividing walls of hostility between us:
Yet we maintain walls that separate and isolate.
You give us the ministry of reconciliation:
Yet we nurse our wounds and withhold mercy and forgiveness.
You invite us to join with Peter, James, and John
on the mountain of Transfiguration:
Yet we deny the wonders you have worked in our own lives.
You ask us to acknowledge and share our wealth:
Yet we refuse to recognize and relieve the poverty around us.
You bless our lives with boundless love:
Yet we fail to witness to that love, and so keep others from knowing you.

Forgive our selfishness, we pray.
Transform us by your Spirit and your Word
into that which pleases you,
the image of Christ.   Amen.

Words of Assurance
Jesus admonished Peter, James, and John
not to tell of what they witnessed on the mountain until he was resurrected.
But we can tell what we have seen and heard of God’s glory!
Here is the good news: Jesus lives! He is raised! We are forgiven!
Go, share the vision! Tell of God’s love! In this God is well pleased!


May we be “the light of the world” as Jesus declared in Matthew 5.

 Blessings for the journey!