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call to confession / declaration of forgiveness

confession: by still waters

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Call to Reconciliation
We wander from hope to hope, thinking the next person,
the next book, the next new thing will lead us in the ways
in which we long to live.  Yet, if we open our eyes and
pay attention, we will see the Good Shepherd, the One
we will bring us into the kingdom of God’s mercy and
hope, even as we confess all the foolish mistakes we
have done, and all the wrong turns we have made.
Join me, as we pray saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
You long to fill us with your comfort and peace,
Still Waters of Grace, but we continue to take on
more anxiety, more worry, more fear.  You would
comfort us in the gentleness of your hope, but we
welcome the embrace of a world spinning more and
more out of control.  You would feed us with more
than we need, but we continue to hunger for the
sweet sensations offered to us by temptation.
You keep your promises and offer us forgiveness
and mercy all the days of our life.  May we keep our
eyes focused on the path you have shaped for us; may
we listen to the call of the Good Shepherd who leads
us into your joy, that kingdom prepared for us by
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

  Silent prayers may be offered

Assurance of Pardon
L:    This is the good news: wherever we are, God
is with us; whoever we are, God forgives us,
and offers us new life.
P:    Surely goodness and mercy are the companions
we have been longing for, faithful friends as we
continue our journey as God’s people.  Amen.

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.

confession: running down the street

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Call to Reconciliation
We know how easy it is to trick ourselves into believing that every thought is pure, every act is just, every choice is correct. But if we want to be God’s children, to grow in hope, to walk in the Light, we must admit our mistakes, so we may open ourselves to the healing mercy of God’s love.  Join me, please, as we pray together, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
Emptier of tombs, we find ourselves running down the street after lies, rather than walking with you. We find it easy to love other people, as long as they don’t annoy or bother us. We hunger for love and search for affirmation, yet find it difficult to let others love us for who we are. Forgive us, Compassionate Heart. You listen to the whispers of our hearts, and then sing of the promises of hope. You grace us with peace, so our hearts can rest in you. You continue to transform us into Easter people, brothers and sisters of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
L:    Not everything has been revealed to us, but this we do know: as God’s children, we are blessed, we are loved, we are forgiven.
P:    Our lives have been transformed by the abundant mercy given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thanks be to God! Amen.

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.

confession: reluctance

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Call to Reconciliation
How often have we heard the good news of forgiveness and restoration? Yet, we are still reluctant to believe. God offers us new life, yet we are afraid to let go of the old. Let us confess our doubts and fears to the One who waits to make us whole.

Unison Prayer of Confession
We use a lot of words, Gracious God, but do little to turn them into deeds. Instead of being of one heart and soul, we choose sides and form groups of folks just like us. Blessed with great grace, we have trouble sharing it with those who need it the most. Forgive us, God of love. Forgive us, as we step out of our shadows into your light. Restore us, as we reveal our brokenness. Hear us, as we proclaim Jesus Christ as our Lord and our God.

(Silent Prayers may be offered)

Assurance of Pardon
L:  This is the good news we have declare: God leads us out of the shadows to walk in the light of Christ.
P:  This is the word we have heard: our faithful God forgives our sins and raises us to new life. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.

confession and pardon: forgetting the resurrection

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Prayer of Confession

Living Lord, Loving God of this Easter Season—we confess that we have already forgotten the Resurrection.  We are already back to our old ways, clinging to consuming, scrambling to be “good enough” and trying to do too much.  We have fallen back into the trap of thinking that we are gods, that the welfare of the world and of our lives depends only on us.   We have already taken more than we should —forgetting that you want to first carry our lives and our loads.   How quickly O Lord have we forgotten you, just one week since Easter.  How quickly have we made ourselves back into gods.  Help us to realign our lives and our faith, once again.  We pray these things in the name of Jesus—our Friend, always offering us a fresh start and forgiveness.  Amen.

 

Assurance of Pardon (adapted from I John, 2 in The Message)

“But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of God the Creator: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world’s.”  Remember these ancient words, remember God’s Love for you, that is beyond all understanding.  Remember that you are forgiven, and do not forget your God.  Amen.

Submitted by Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo, Watchung Avenue Presbyterian Church, North Plainfield NJ.

call to confession / declaration of grace: in the midst of the song

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Call to Confession:

Even in the midst of great joy and celebration,
we know that our lives don’t always reflect God’s intentions…
So please join me in the prayer of confession, printed in the bulletin,
followed by a moment of silent reflection and personal confession…

Declaration of Grace:

This is good news:

The song does not ever have to end…
the joy does not ever have to be forgotten…
and the celebration does not ever have to fade…
because God’s grace does not ever stop surrounding us…
loving us…
healing us…
and making us new, each and every day!

So let’s continue to sing and give thanks to God!

Submitted by Scott Cervas, pastor at Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY)