February 12

Parables of the Kingdom

Prayer of Confession

Gracious Gardener of Creation,
you scatter your seeds of grace, hope, and love with abandon.
We struggle to comprehend why you’d throw your love around like that.
We think we could do it better—
plowing and planting your sacred seeds in the soil we think best,
carefully measuring out just the right amount
of what we think right and good and needful for it to grow.
Extravagant God,
forgive us for dismissing your ways and doubting your abundance.
You are not frivolous; you are faithful.
Our own roots are shallow
and we quickly fall away when times get tough;
the weeds of our lives—our greed, hatred, apathy, and fear—
choke our commitment to you.
Pull up the weeds within and around us,
so that we may bear good fruit for you.
Let your mercy shower upon us like rain.

Congregational Song Suggestions

Beyond the Hymnal