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call to confession / declaration of forgiveness

confession: grace took a breath

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Call to Reconciliation
In the carols, we are reminded the reason why God came to us in Jesus, so we might have life and share it with others.  Let us confess how we have misused this great gift as we pray together, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
You came as a baby into our world,
forgive us for ignoring the children
who are hungry and lost around us.
You became weak for our sake,
forgive us when we we think
power is the only way to live.
You became poor to serve the world,
forgive us for our obsession with
wealth and material goods.

You became one of us, so we might draw closer to you, God of Christmas mornings, so have mercy on us.  Comfort us, as you touch us with your steadfast love; strengthen us as your pour out your faithfulness on us; help us to sing the glad news of the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord, your Child, into our world.

Silence is kept

L:  In the silence of that first morning, grace took a breath, a tiny hand clutched love, the Light of life came into the world that we might be forgiven.
P:  We join all around us in singing the glad songs of Christmas joy this morning and all the days to come. Amen.

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, Lectionary Liturgies

confession: strange economy of grace

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Call to Reconciliation
God has a vision of a time and place where enemies
become best friends, where the world is a playground
for all children.  But we know how we resist living in
such a kingdom, for our eyes are blinded by sin.
Let us confess to our God, as we pray, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
On this day we confess, God of righteousness, how we have not been your
people.  When we are offered the opportunity to get between the poor and
those who would shove them aside, we too easily step out of the way.  When
we could stand up for those in need, we prefer to sit on the sidelines.
When we are called to be servant leaders, we choose to act as if others
should wait on us.
Have mercy on us, Blessing God.  As we repent, we would see the kingdom
which is in our midst.  By your grace, we discover that in your strange
economy of grace, all people matter; by your love, we can bear fruit of
compassion and hope; by your peace, we can clothe others in your justice,
even as Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, wraps us in justice.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
L:  We confess, and so we rejoice, for God has accepted us for who we are,
and claimed us as God’s own children.
P:  We lift our praise to God, who fills us with hope and grace.  Thanks be
to God, we are forgiven!  Amen.

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, Lectionary Liturgies

call to confession: put down the baggage

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God is faithful and asks us to be faithful as well. We seek God’s way, recognizing that we are hindered by the baggage we carry along on the journey. When we confess our sin, we offer that burden to Christ, and make room for the Spirit’s work in our hearts, minds, and lives. Before God, with the people of God, let us confess to our brokenness. Let us pray.

 

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

awareness and reconciliation for All Saints’ Day

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Our lives are full of mistakes and errors – places where we follow self-generated idols instead of the One True God. We are not alone in these mistakes – all of those who have come before us also were plagued with temptation and sin. Let us come before God, just as generations of believers have done, and pray for God’s forgiveness and grace.

Beloved God, who was known to our mothers and fathers, and even to our spiritual forebears, have mercy on us. We do not always love as you would have us love. We do not always do as you would have us do. In our stubbornness, we turn from you when we should turn toward you. Hold us, dear One – comfort us when we mourn the passing of friends and family, and help us to know that they are rejoicing in your presence. We praise you for the grace you shower on us, constantly forgiving our errors, especially the ones that we don’t share with any but you. Hear now the silent fears and worries of our hearts.

A time of silence

Friends, hear the good news! Though thousands upon thousands of our ancestors did not follow God’s ways perfectly, we have hope in the one who did! Jesus, a man of a particular people in a particular time, taught through his words and deeds that God has already forgiven us. Thus, we and all who have come before us are rightly known as saints – the holy ones of God! Thanks be to God for God’s mercy, grace, and love! Amen!

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

call to confession/assurance of pardon: calling out to God

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Call to Confession

Like the rich Pharisee, we believe that if we do all the right things before God, we will have earned God’s favor. Yet God does not want our pretenses and posturing. God says to us, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” So let us drop the barriers between us and God and our neighbor and call out like the tax collector, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” confessing to God together in prayer the things that keep us hurting and broken…

(Suggest using a part of one of the Reformed confessions of our heritage in honor of Reformation Sunday.)

Assurance of Forgiveness

We have called out to God and God has heard our cries. God’s merciful Spirit is poured out on all people. Our Creator has offered us forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ, for we have humbled ourselves before him and sought his mercy, and so we shall be exalted. For these abundant gifts of God’s undeserved grace, let us stand and sing praise.

submitted by Rev. Rebecca Page Lesley, Suffolk Presbyterian Church, Suffolk, VA