Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you

SCRIPTURE READING AND PRAYER OF CONFESSION
by Brenda Sawatzky Paetkau
Scripture reading based on Deut. 34:1-12; Psalm 109:21-31; Acts 16:6-15; John 14:27

Reader 1:	Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives.
Reader 2:	Moses went up to Mount Nebo and saw the expanse of the Promised Land. And God said, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there."
Reader 1:	Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives.
Reader 2:	Then Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab. The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab. Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the Lord commanded.
Reader 1:	Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives.
Solo voice sings: Holy Spirit, come with power, breathe into our aching night. [from Hymnal: A Worship Book #26]
Reader 3:	I am poor and needy, and my heart is pierced within me. I am gone like a shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust. My knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt. I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.
Reader 1:	Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives.
Solo voice sings: Holy Spirit, come with power, breathe into our aching night.
Reader 4:	Paul and Timothy went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
Reader 1:	Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives.
Solo voice sings: Holy Spirit, come with power, breathe into our aching night.
Hymn #26: Holy Spirit, come with power (v.1 only)

Prayer of confession:

O God, even though we keep proclaiming that through your resurrection power, Christ is alive, we your children weep like the Israelites at the pain of death. Even with the knowledge of your resurrection power, we still ache in the night.

Even though we keep proclaiming that through your resurrection power, Christ is alive, we your children rage indignantly like the psalmist against injustice perpetrated against us and our world. Even with the knowledge of your resurrection power, we still ache in the night.

Even though we keep proclaiming that through your resurrection power, Christ is alive, we your children, like Paul and Timothy, are confused when the Spirit of Jesus says no to us. Even with the knowledge of your resurrection power, we still ache in the night.

O God, clearly your resurrection power is not protection against death, injustice, or confusion. Your peace is not what we thought. O God, if your peace is not protection from these things, then powerfully show us what your peace offers us. Into this silence, breathe the peace you offer. Amen.