Saturday, April 11, 2009

The service of the nails...

Last night we remembered Jesus' death on the cross with the service of the nails. Throughout the evening, we prayed responsively to God concerning our sins which sent him to die. I thought these written prayers did a good job of reminding us of our great debt to God and his free gift of forgiveness.

The Nail of Pride

O God - help us consider our own pride and where it leads.
O God - do not let us deceive ourselves. Our pride hurts us and creates walls between us and others.
O God - we know too that our pride hurts you.

The Nail of Betrayal

O God - help us consider how we betray others, how we abandon them in their time of need, how we think of ourselves first.
O God - do not let us deceive ourselves.
O God - we know too that our betrayal hurts you.

The Nail of Envy

O God - helps us consider how we envy others, how we desire more than we receive and seek to influence and rule over others.
O God - do not let us deceive ourselves. Our envy hurts us and creates walls between us and others.
O God - we know too that our envy hurts you.

The Nail of Indecision

O God - help us consider how we waver, how we seek to avoid responsibility and to blame others for our actions.
O God - do not let us deceive ourselves. Our indecision hurts us and creates walls between us and others.
O God - we know too that our indecision hurts you.

The Nail of Cruelty

O God - help us consider how we are cruel to others, how we malign and slander others and add to the evil that comes upon them.
O God - do not let us deceive ourselves. Our cruelty hurts us and creates walls between us and others.
O God - we know too that our cruelty hurts you.

The Nail of Hatred

O God - help us consider how we show hate to others, how we fail to care for others and make distinctions among them.
O God - do not let us deceive ourselves. Our hatred hurts us and creates walls between us and others.
O God - we know too that our hatred hurts you.

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