Prayer of Confession, E6B

Call to Confession

God calls us to be an inclusive community that seeks to live according to God's desire for God's kingdom, but over and over, we judge and in judging, exclude those we deem not fit. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

Prayer of Confession

Forgive us, Lord,
Forgive us, please,
for the church has adopted the manner
of exclusive country clubs
and decided who can be in
and who must not.
Race
and gender
and sexual orientation
and gender identification
become measures for deciding
who can lead
and who must not
instead of assessing spiritual gifts
and faithfulness.
We behave as those who are
privileged ...
judge and jury ...
claiming Scriptural authority,
but did not Jesus call those considered
least?
Forgive us.
Circumcise our hearts,
that we might be humbled before you
and before those whom we have called "lesser."
Open us to the joy of diversity
and the new life it breathes
as all your people are welcomed
to love and serve in Jesus' name.


Assurance of God's Grace

As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27), and in Christ's name, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God!

Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us also forgive one another. The peace of Christ be with you.
Please extend the peace of Christ to all whom you encounter this day~