Praise to They, who, in the heavenly and earthly realms
welcome us into this sacred space
Where we can bring our burdens and our pain.

Brother Jesus,
you have never failed.
You are faithful and true.
You are caring and healing.
You love the least and the outcast.
You welcome all to come.

And yet,

the church of this age
has failed us;
It has been faithless and deceitful,
Judgmental and wounding.
It has condemned and shunned in your name.

O, merciful God,

Remind us that while we have
Departed from an institution that has
Abandoned its calling,
you have not abandoned us.
You are with us and with our siblings
Who have been marginalized for far too long.

Holy Spirit,

We ask that as we close the door
On religion that abides in a narrow-minded box
That you open our hearts to a new way.
That you give us a new name,
not of our own choosing,
but one given us by those to whom we show love and acceptance
as You have shown us love and acceptance—
just as we are.

For,

You told us that the Way
To fulfill your plan for humankind
Is love.

Not judgment.
Not condemnation.
Not rejection or isolation.
Not partisanship or politic.
Not doctrine.
Not racism.
Not misogyny.
Not sexism.

But love, simply love.

In this
You are well-pleased. 

So,
Heal our wounds, for they are deep.
Replace our skepticism with a new hope.
Bathe us in fresh waters that cleanse the stains of bitterness.
Clothe us with acceptance and freedom.

For yours is a kingdom for all,
And we want to be a part of it,
Not apart from it.

Amen.