Prayer of Confession, E7C

Call to Confession 

See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. (Malachi 4:1) Let us humble ourselves before God and confess our arrogance and our evil deeds and seek God's immeasurable mercy:

Prayer of Confession 

Lord, in your mercy, forgive us, we pray.
In his wisdom, King Solomon warned, 
"It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for the throne is established by righteousness," 
yet we do not hold our leaders to the standard set
by the One whom we claim to follow. 
In fact, we excuse their evil deeds
and adopt their arrogance
and defer attention by slandering those
who serve faithfully. 
We are not who we claim to be.
We do not follow Christ's example 
when we take food from children
and support from those who are battling for their lives
and aid from those who are ill
and opportunities from the marginalized
and history and science from education. 
We do not follow your commandments
when we take autonomy from humans
or hospitality from strangers
or provision for the poor. 
Have mercy on us, we pray,
and renew a right spirit within us.
Remind us who we are 
and whose we are
that we might transform our thinking
and live out the baptismal claims
on our lives. 


Assurance of God's Grace

He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14) Hear the Good News: In the name of Jesus Christ, 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 week.