Prayer of Confession, P+23A

Call to Confession

Against {God}, {God} alone, have we sinned
    and done what is evil in {God's} sight,
so that {God} is justified in {God's} sentence
    and blameless when {God} passes judgment.  (Psalm 51:4 pp)

Prayer of Confession

Forgive us, God, for we have sinned.
We do not incline our ears to you.
Our ears are trained on messages from those
who subvert your message
for their own purposes.
We do not tell the stories of your glorious deeds
to our children ...
or to anyone, for that matter.
We use your name in vain
and we take credit for the miracles you work
in our midst.
Our arrogance is beyond reprehensible.
Forgive us, we pray!
Open our ears to truly listen
as you speak to us of the radical reign of love.
Transform our hearts, 
so that the hope we claim is the hope that comes 
from knowing you more fully
and walking humbly alongside you
as we learn to be the people you have called us to be.

Assurance of God's Grace

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