Prayer of Confession, P+22A

Call to Confession

Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,
    and relenting from punishment. (Joel 2:13b)  Let us return to God, confessing our sin, and seeking God's mercy:

Prayer of Confession

Forgive us, God, for we have sinned.
We have made our dwelling place
in the world in which we live
with its worldly values
and frustrations
and fears.
We have become more comfortable 
where we can self-focus
and kvetch
and cry
not for others,
but for our own pain and suffering.
Hear our prayers, O God.
Draw us near to you,
and teach us
compassion
and peace.
Teach us to weep for the things
that break your heart.
Teach us to love
our neighbor
as ourselves.
Make of us a people that reflects
the love you have shown 
for all creation,
that we may be agents
of transformation in the world
according to your steadfast love.

Assurance of God's Grace

And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18) 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.