Prayer of Confession, Epiphany 1B

Call to Confession

All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Let us confess our sin and seek God's mercy.

Prayer of Confession

There are days, we confess,
when we cannot see beyond ourselves ...
beyond our fear ...
beyond our failures ...
beyond our frustrations,
days when we move in a soup of nothingness ...
a bottomless emptiness ...
an inky blackness.
We do not recognize
Spirit
hovering over us
like a bird above the watery abyss.
We do not trust
that the Light
is more than an illusion.
Forgive us, we pray.
Open our eyes
to see
what you have called
good.
Open our eyes
to see
beyond ourselves ...
beyond our fear ...
beyond our failures ...
beyond our frustrations,
to the Light of Love
that conceived
and gave birth
to creation
in all its splendor,
as self-revelation
for the creature
even today.

Assurance of God's Grace

God spoke, "Light." And light appeared. God saw that the Light was good and separated the light from the dark. And God sent the Light into the world and the darkness has not overcome it. In the name of the One who is Light of the World, 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.