My sisters and brothers, we pray to be the good soil that hears God's word and lets it bear fruit in our lives.

Merciful God, we turn to you in the hope that we may better praise, bless, and give you thanks.

It is in remembering our relationship to God that we keep our faith alive. We look to the renewal of that relationship.

We turn to God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--for the forgiveness that reconciles us to God and one another.

We ask for the forgiveness the Spirit of God gives us.

Jesus was one with God. In prayer we ask for greater unity with Christ.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is seated at God's right hand and will come again. We turn to God and pray to be made worthy of this glorious promise.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We turn to him for the forgiveness that brings new life.

In the words of today's scripture, we are "chosen and precious in the sight of God." We pray for the forgiveness and strength we need to be called the people of God.

The Lord is our shepherd. We turn to him for forgiveness.