We remember the Way

Affirmation of Faith

Lent 3. Year B. 

Exodus 20:1–17 

As we travel through this season

of turning and returning back to You,

dying to the ways of death,

living again Your Way of life,

we remember the rule you gave

to our ancestors in Spirit,

we remember, and we renew

our part in this promise. 

We remember You,

Holy One, our God,

who brings us into freedom. 

We worship only You. 

We will not make an idol

of anything found on Earth,

not bow down or worship

any god but You. 

We will honour the Name,

the Holy Name,

and will not tolerate misuse 

of the Holy Name. 

We will rest. Will breathe. 

Will set time aside for You alone. 

We will honour those who go

before us: parents, elders, ancestors. 

We will treasure life, preserve it. 

We will treasure relationship, and be faithful. 

We will take nothing that is not ours.

We will not lie, or deceive;

will not betray our neighbour,

not look at our neighbour with greed or envy. 

We will love and honour Holy One.

We will love and honour neighbours,

human and not human, and ourselves. 

May it be so. 

Amen. 

Hear, and learn again

Exodus 16 

Challenge 

Do you not learn, 

people of Holy One? 

Morning by morning

the sun rises,

a new day begins,

and Holy One is here,

as They have been 

here each morning before. 

Yet will you still 

not trust in the enduring

presence of Holy One? 

Do you not learn,

people of Holy One? 

Day by day 

the Earth will provide;

season by season,

varieties of fruits 

and vegetables and grains;

foot to eat, shelter

to build, clothes to make – 

enough. 

Yet will you still

not trust in the provider,

our Holy One? 

Do you not learn,

people of Holy One? 

Night after night,

teaching spoken, 

Wisdom awoken: 

Let it be, it is, 

and it is good; 

I will be, they are,

and Holy One is good. 

Yet will you still

 not trust in the promises,

the Promise of Holy One? 

Confession 

Leader: We are slow to learn

All: Quicken our eyes to see you near 

L: We are reluctant to trust

A: Open our hearts to rest in you

L: We are hard of hearing

A: Sharpen our ears to heed your voice

L: We are your people

A: We forget you are our Holy One

L: Forgive us, please

A: Please, forgive us 

Assurance of Grace 

Morning by morning

Holy One reveals themselves,

ever near,

ready to welcome 

Day by day

Holy One's creation holds

always enough,

restoring life 

Night after night

Holy One's Wisdom endures

through darkness,

shining light. 

Hear now, learn again: 

Holy One forgives,

forgives,

forgives. 

Amen. 

Where we stand: stories of liberation

Exodus 14:19–31 

a confession 

Oh, Holy One,

we understand the need for stories

of vanquished enemies,

of victory for 'us' and defeat for 'them'; 

the need to name the feeling 

that we have escaped, 

to feel certain those who chase

can no longer pursue – 

we need to know that we are free. 

We understand the need for stories

that shout our anger,

release our fear,

inflict our desire for vengeance,

enact our hope for justice – 

but, Holy One, we also know 

that these stories paint you 

into a box of vengeance,

wrath, violence, 

and we are content to leave

you there so we may follow

our anger through to action

and feel justified, verified,

holier than we may actually be. 

So, Holy One, we are sorry

we keep you wrapped in anger,

and we are sorry for looking 

back angry ourselves without

seeking a path to peace. 

Holy One, as we tell the stories

passed on to us through time,

help us find you in the stories,

truly, fully, Holy One of liberation, 

of promise, of presence, with the oppressed; 

and help us to see 

clearly where we stand today,

which may be on the other side

of the parted, enclosing waters. 

We will listen

a call to worship or opening prayer

Exodus 17:1–7



What patience to endure
the squabbles of your people;
what humility, to take
our doubts and disbelief.
What faithfulness you show,
through desert thirst and fear;
what miracles inspired by you,
the very, precious, gift of life.
What wisdom we hear from you,
if we will listen – we are here to listen.