Prayer of Confession, P+21B

Call to Confession

For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. (Mark 8:35) Let us confess our sin before God, laying down our lives and taking up the gospel imperatives, and seek God's mercy.

Prayer of Confession

Forgive us, Teacher,
for we have the audacity to believe
that privilege makes us favored.
We rail against entitlement,
but we are the ones who think of ourselves
as entitled.
We expect to be honored,
anticipate that God will raise us up,
and rage against the very idea
that we might not have the power
we pretend we should have.
Servanthood is beneath us.
Yet servanthood is what you exemplified for us
in the personhood of Christ,
who came to serve the lost and lonely,
the hurting and hopeless,
the widow, the orphan, and the stranger.
Humble us, we pray.
Transform us into a people that follow the example
of the Servant Leader Jesus Christ
who lived, not for his own honor and glory,
but for yours.
Grant that we may be worthy
to drink from the cup which Jesus drank,
to suffer alongside your people
and to work for justice for all.
May it be so.

Assurance of God's Grace

Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12) 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.