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call to confession / declaration of forgiveness

confession: questions

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Often, the “simple” answers to life’s difficult problems cause us greater pain than the original problem did! By coming before God with our mistakes, we help to restore our community, and lay down the burdens on our soul. Let us bow our hearts in prayer.
Holy and beloved God, we struggle every day with the questions that plague us. Questions that we fear to utter to each other, certain that “they” have the answer that we don’t. We hold in our questions because we are afraid – either of the question itself, or what the answer may be. Help us to ask these questions – and forgive us for the questions we have left unasked or unanswered. Hear now the silent questions of our hearts.
A time of silence for reflection and prayer
Truly, our God is a God of questions. Whether the divine mystery of the Trinity, or the Psalmist’s “How long, O God?” the holy one of Israel answers our questions in God’s own time. But take heart! Jesus has promised us community in God, where our questions may lead to answer – or more questions – but are always safe to ask and be asked.
In Christ Jesus, God fulfilled promises of generations past, and we are assured that God will fulfill more promises to come!

Submitted by Rev. Lucus Keppel, Ancho Community Presbyterian Church & Corona United Presbyterian Church, New Mexico

confession: reform and transform

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Call to Reconciliation
Seeking to follow Jesus, we often wander down the wrong roads. Impatient
with God’s schedule, we rush off to do things our way. Let us confess our
foolishness, that we might receive God’s hope for our lives.

Unison Prayer of Confession
Your words are given to us, Author of Life, so we might be reformed,
but we are intent on changing others.  Your words are offered to us so we
might be transformed, but we are focused on conforming to our culture. Your
words are spoken to lead us into new life, but we hold our old ways tight to
our chests.
Forgive us, God of Wonder. Do not remember our sins, but continue to
touch us with your steadfast mercy. Show us how to be persistent in living
out our faith, even as you were so tenacious in offering us your grace and
life in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
L:  Jesus reminds us that we are to be resolute in our lives of faithfulness
and service.  The good news is that God is steadfast in filling us with love
and grace.
P:  We are forgiven people. May we live as sisters and brothers in Christ,
God’s children in word and deed, in hope and joy. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, Lectionary Liturgies.

confession: upside down kingdom

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PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Matthew 5:14-16

ALL: God of the upside down kingdom, reorient us; for we seek to hide what you would have shine. From our fall in Eden, we have been embarrassed by the fullness of our humanity, and in our shame and fear have hidden ourselves from you.

Forgive us, Lord, for it is truly our kingdoms which are upside down, and yours which is right side up. We need your help if we are to see the goodness of your creation, that we may rightly reflect Your goodness to the world. 

Oh God of light, make us to be Your light, for the sake of Your salvation …

… continue in silent prayer and meditation …

 

ONE: Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer

ALL: Amen

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

ONE: Hear the good news! The God of creation is a proud and merciful creator.  We who bear God’s image may also expect to receive God’s grace. Though we have sought to recreate ourselves according to our shame and fear, we may be assured of this: If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation! The old has gone, and the new has come. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace!

ALL: Thanks be to God!  

 

Submitted by Will Norman, First Presbyterian Church, Atlanta GA

confession: idolizing past and future

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Call to Confession

If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation—the old has gone, and the new has come. Yet we often have difficulty living in that new reality, clinging to the old ways that have passed. When we confess our sin, we make room for God’s truth to dwell in us, clearing the path for a new way of life. Before God, with the people of God, let us confess our faults and our failings. Let us pray.

Prayer of Confession

God, your faithfulness is for all generations, yet we often have a hard time living with you in this generation.
We love to look back, idolizing the past while forgetting we wear rose-colored glasses. We love our anxiety about the future, fretting about our individual long term security. We love our ideas about you, our lofty words and abstract concepts that do not affect our everyday lives.
We confess that it is rare for us to trust, to love, to follow with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Forgive us when we trap you in our memories or our intellects. Forgive us when we forget that you are also right here, right now, with a calling and a promise for us in this time and this place.

~silence~

Gracious God,
speak into our wilderness again, that we may learn to be your people. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. From before the beginning until long beyond our imagination, God’s love endures. Know that you are forgiven, loved and free. Thanks be to God! Amen.

 

Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL.

confession and pardon: bargaining and deceiving

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Prayer of Confession

Almighty God, we have sinned against you and against our neighbors.
We are quick to bargain with you to gain your blessing,
instead of being content with your grace.
We give in to the temptation to deceive others for our own gain,
instead of speaking the truth in love.
We let our fear or our greed disrupt our relationships with others,
instead of loving our neighbor as ourselves.
We focus on what you can do for us,
rather than offering our lives to you.
Forgive us our sins, and transform us into your faithful people.

Silent Confession

Assurance of Pardon

Hear the Good News: God is ready to forgive,
gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
God has not forsaken us, God has forgiven us.
Thanks be to God!

Assurance of Pardon adapted from Nehemiah 9:17 (NRSV)
Submitted by Rev. Lorinda H. M. Hoover, Glidden United Methodist Church