Prayer of Confession, P+17B

Call to Confession

"But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.” (2 Timothy 2:19) Let us call on the name of the Lord, confess our sin, repent, and seek God's mercy:

Prayer of Confession

You sing your creation song, Creator God,
and we close our ears,
stomping our feet -- not in rhythm to nature sounds,
but to stamp out them out,
because we do not feel an obligation to care for
that which we do not acknowledge as living and active
in our world.
Your voice goes throughout all the earth,
and we drown it out with the noise of anger
and hatred
and fear-mongering,
with loud and boisterous rhetoric
and exploding bombs
and the ricochet of assault weapons as they fire
at our children in the perceived safety 
of educational institutions.
Your law is perfect, Living Word,
and yet we call loving others weakness,
welcoming strangers unsafe,
feeding the hungry enabling,
and self-sacrifice unfair.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Hear our prayers for mercy,
and teach us to be merciful.
Hear our prayers for forgiveness,
and teach us to forgive.
Hear our prayers for life,
and teach us to listen with new ears
that the words of our mouths
and the meditations of our hearts
may ultimately be acceptable in your sight, O Lord,
our Rock and our Redeemer.


Assurance of God's Grace

"All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:43) 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.