Leader: To you, Oh God, who dwells within us and all creation, we lift outspread hands athirst for thee in a thirsty land.

People: God of our yesterdays, lead us to your tomorrows.

Leader: We praise you for the long years of your forgiving love which called us to be your people, to love each other, to share your forgiveness with a hurting world.

People: God of our yesterdays, lead us to your tomorrows.

Leader: Forgive us our failure when we did not hear your strong voice and turned our face from justice for all people, when we let the hungry go without food, and the homeless dwell without shelter.

People: God of our yesterdays, lead us to your tomorrows.

Leader: Do not hide your face from us, but show us the way we must go or we shall be like those who do down to the abyss.

People: God of our yesterdays, lead us to your tomorrows.

Leader: Let the light break forth like the dawn, and may we be like a stream who waters never fail.

People: God of our yesterdays, lead us to your tomorrows.

 

Suggestion: Enlist a man or woman with some years on them to lead this one. Speaking of the long years of your forgiving love works best when read by a person who is experienced with long years.

Source: Composed by Walker Knight, drawing upon Psalm 146 and Isaiah 58. Led by Walker Knight as a Call to Worship at Oakhurst Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia on August 25, 2013, as the church celebrated one hundred years of service.

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