Prayer of Confession, L6B

Call to Confession

Let us devote ourselves to loving one another. Love comes straight from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and truly knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7-8) Let us confess our unloving ways and seek God's mercy.

Prayer of Confession

If only we had recognized the things that make for peace, Lord.
If only we had not closed our eyes to your teaching.
Our enemies surround us and threaten us,
even from among us.
Our complacency confronts us.
Preserving the status quo to the detriment of our neighbors
is a vile abomination.
What more is there to say, O Lord?
We have failed you dismally.
Yet we show up to throw our coats on the ground before you,
and then when the winds change, 
we will shout with the throngs, "Crucify him!"
We will choose a criminal over you
and we will justify it in the name of our God.
Save us, we beg you, O Lord!
O Lord, we beg you, give us success!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.

Assurance of God's Grace

For you know the generous act[a] of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.  (2 Corinthians 8:9) In 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 day.