based on the ‘tree of life’ passages from the book of revelation. we used this in a ‘tree of life’ themed service as the congregation hung written prayers on a bare tree. the absolution was adapted from liturgy written by NOS.

confession meditation with responses

And the Angel showed me a young girl sleeping in a shop doorway.
I watched as people passed her by, looking the other way, not wanting to meet the eye of their own daughter.

‘For God’s sake, we need help’ - ’We find help in the risen Christ’

And the angel showed me the television news.
I saw a world far away, I saw crops fail, I saw hungry families, I saw poor people giving what little they had to those who already had more than they needed.
I quickly turned over to ‘ready steady cook’.

‘For God’s sake, we need justice’ - ’We find justice in the risen Christ’

And the angel showed me a vial of posion, and the lad about to shoot it into his arm.
I couldn’t understand why he would want to do this. I turned away, and poured myself a drink to try and blot out the image.

‘For God’s sake, we need understanding’ - ’We find understanding in the risen Christ’

And the angel showed me a rainforest, a tree pulped into card, becoming a carton filled with fries, being dropped empty to the ground, lying there until it was swept up and poured into a landfill. Nothing grew there.
I ordered another burger to go.

‘For God’s sake, we need vision’ - ’We find vision in the risen Christ’

And the angel showed me a holy place. And I saw a 17 year old girl strap her body with explosives and walk into a crowded restaurant.

‘For God’s sake, we need peace’ - ’We find peace in the risen Christ’

And the angel showed me the river of the water of life. It was shining like crystal and was flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the street of the city. The tree of life was on each side of the river. It produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of all the nations.

absolution

May God, who knows the trap of false dreams,
who sees the pitfalls of good intentions,
who understands the pain and frustration of being human,
heal us and lead us to new life in Christ.
Amen

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