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call to confession / declaration of forgiveness

palm sunday’s call to reconciliation

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Call to confession:

When the parade is over, do we pick up our lives,
brush them off, and live in the old way?  Do we toss
our palm branches aside, so we can grasp the seductions
of the world?  As we begin the journey through the
holiest of weeks, let us speak the truth, as we confess
to our God, praying together,

(Prayer of Confession)

Assurance of Pardon
L:    Laying aside judgment, God offers us redemption;
setting aside anger, God embraces us with love;
letting go of grief, God pours living water upon us.
This is the good news, my friends:
God’s steadfast love endures forever.
P:    Hosanna! Hosanna!
Blessed is the One who brings us
the kingdom of God!  Amen.

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

call to confession / declaration of grace: renewed

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Call to Confession:

Too often, we ignore our need to be renewed,
and our responsibility to be a renewing presence in the world…
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:

We were not created to be static human beings…
immoveable, unalterable, and unyielding;
and God responds to our stubborn resistance to be renewed,
not with violent threats,
but with graceful patience and healing mercy.

So let’s sing and give thanks to God!

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

call/confession/assurance: we cannot see Jesus

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Call to Reconciliation
We close our heart’s eye, and wonder why we cannot see Jesus. We wander down the same old paths, and are amazed that Jesus is not ahead of us. We speak and live in ways which keep us from being God’s children. Ler us come to the One who offers us grace and mercy, as we pray together, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
Love that knows no boundaries: we crowd our lives with so much activity, that it is hard to find time for you. We become so focused on ourselves, we can overlook those around us who are searching for hope. We fill our spiritual emptiness with junk, rather than feasting on your Word.

Abundant Mercy, forgive us. Open our eyes, that we may see your new covenant written in plain sight on our hearts. Open our hearts, that we may join you in serving the broken of the world.  Open our love, so we may pour it out as abundantly and graciously as your love is given to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is observed

Assurance of Pardon
Like a parent tenderly washing her child, God bathes us in the warm waters of forgiveness, cleansing us, and restoring us to new life.
Through Christ, we are made whole;
through Christ, we are loved;
through Christ, we become new people.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

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

confession and assurance: darkness and light

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*Prayer of Confession

   We hear that we are loved, but we struggle to receive it. We err on the side of fear and judgment rather than faith and love. We choose darkness instead of light. We hear there is eternal life, but refuse to believe it.

   Forgive us when we choose darkness over light. Have mercy on us when we choose judgment over love. Remind us that you hear our cry in the wilderness and we will not perish…
(time of silent confession)

 

*Assurance of Pardon   
The Light has come into the world and the darkness shall not overcome it!
God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Rejoice! Beloved children of God, we are forgiven!
Alleluia! Amen!

Submitted by Rev. Kathryn Z. Johnston – Mechanicburg Presbyterian Church – Mechanicsburg, PA

confession and assurance: even in the darkness

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*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Gracious and Loving God, we spend so much of our lives in the darkness, not daring to step into your light. But in your light is life, and in the darkness, only death. Teach us to turn back to the light of your love. Amen. 

*WORDS OF ASSURANCE

One:   God shows us the light in Jesus Christ so, that we may have life and have it abundantly.
ALL:  God blesses us, even in seasons of darkness. We remember
     the promises of God’s love. Our despair turns to hope and  our sorrow into joy.

 

Submitted by Rev. Elsa Peters, First Congregational Church, South Portland, ME