Holy Saturday: The Loss of Community

Graduate students in the sciences were challenged to translate their research into a prayer of confession—to communicate how the work their doing in creation is addressing the brokenness we see around. And we invite you to join in.

O God, who sustains and provides, we bring our lament for the loss of other creatures with whom we share this world. We confess that we have lived with greed and desired more than we need. O Lord, we long for a world where humanity lives within the right limits of your creation and with the balance that glorifies your name. In the work that we do and the lives that we live bring that day closer. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

A prayer of confession from the Au Sable Graduate Fellows

Questions & Activities

• How does this prayer resonate with you?
• Loss is inherent to life (remember yesterday’s devotion for Good Friday), but this doesn’t mean we don’t mourn this loss. Of friends, of families, of our favorite natural spaces. Today, standing between Good Friday and Easter, we sit in this loss. Take a moment to mediate on an ecological loss you’ve experienced.
• Consider reading one of the lectionary texts for today, like Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16. Do we rely on God for the healing of the losses we experience? How? Or why not?
• Write your own prayer of confession around the theme of loss. O God,  who sustains and provides, we bring our lament for [What element(s) of creation have you seen lost?]. We confess [What are some ways we are culpable for this lament?]. Oh Lord, we long for a world [what is your hope for change?]. Amen.