Prayer of Confession, P+16B

Call to Confession

(We) lift up (our) eyes to the hills. From where does (our) help come? (Psalm 121:1) Let us lift up our eyes to the hills and seek God's mercy:

Prayer of Confession

God of Mercy and Compassion,
forgive us, we pray.
We have not looked to you for deliverance.
We have not trusted in you for the future 
you have promised.
Instead, we have asserted that we do not need
forgiveness,
that we are righteous and good.
Humility is a word and a concept
we not only choose not to understand,
but a word and a concept we choose to deride.
We scorn those who are different from us,
who are marginalized,
who are oppressed.
We, ourselves, are the proud and contemptuous.
Forgive us, we pray,
and renew a right spirit within us, 
that we may recognize that we are your children,
and you are our God.
Call us back to a place of reconciliation
and restoration.
Remind us how it is that we have what we have,
for it is only by your grace
that we have been blessed,
and lead us ever forward in an attitude of servanthood
as modeled by Christ
when he walked among us.


Assurance of God's Grace

In (our) distress, (we) called to the Lord, and the Lord answered (us).  (Psalm 120:1) 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.