Prayer of Confession, P+14B

Call to Confession

(God) removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit (God) prunes to make it bear more fruit. (John 15:2) Let us join together in confessing the places where we have failed to bear fruit or have borne fruit that is of no good use:

Prayer of Confession

O Lord of hosts,
how lovely is your dwelling place!
And we can see that ...
when we are somewhere else.
The grass is always greener.
Mountains inspire us.
Oceans uplift us.
Forests comfort us.
Waterfalls refresh us.
But we fail to see the beauty in our own
backyards.
Happy are those who live in your house,
Lord,
and we are happy when we believe 
we are in your house,
but we do not believe ourselves to be 
in your house
when we are in our own house.
What is familiar
does not feel holy
or sacred
or awe-inspiring.
Refocus our understanding
of where you dwell, we pray.
Help us to see you everywhere,
and to honor your presence
among us
with joy and delight
and with wonder
and awe.

Assurance of God's Grace

God has promised that when we confess our sin, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us our sin, removing it as far as the east is from the west and remembering it no more. (Psalm 103:12, Hebrews 8:12) Hear the Good News: 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 week.