Prayer of Confession, P+11A

Call to Confession

“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, do I seek. (Psalm 27:8) Let us seek God's face and ask for mercy:

Prayer of Confession

Have mercy on us, O God,
for we have not called on your name.
We do not tell the stories of your activity
in our lives.
We do not honor you with "Alleluia!"s.
We walk around blindly,
eyes closed to your presence,
to the infiltration of the Holy Spirit,
to the redeeming power of possibility
in Jesus Christ.
No. We are the ones selling siblings into slavery,
placing shackles on those whom you have called
chosen ... precious ... honored ...
because they threaten the stories we tell ourselves
about who is deserving of God's grace
and who isn't. 
Forgive us, we pray.
Open our eyes, Lord, and help us to see
what we have refused to acknowledge:
that you have sent Jesus ahead of us
and put him in charge of your business,
to personally instruct your people
in the ways of mercy and love
and to train his disciples
in wisdom.
May it be so.


Assurance of God's Grace

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-- 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast.  (Ephesians 2:8-9)  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.