Prayer of Confession, P+24B

Call to Confession

Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters,[c] are liars; for those who do not love a (sibling) whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. (1 John 4:20) Let us stand together and confess the ways in which we have failed to love our siblings in Christ.
 
Prayer of Confession

Forgive us, God of the stranger and the nomad,
of the widowed and bereaved.
We are so wrapped up in our own grief and fear
that we fail to look out for the wellbeing of those around us:
We fear isolation
and vulnerability.
We fear being backed into a corner.
We fear uncertainty
and grief.
We grieve what we have lost
and what we might lose
and that we might never be in control of the future again.
What we forget is that we have never been isolated
or alone
any more than we have ever been
in control of our futures,
and that grief is a season
in which tears water the ground
that births new life.
Remind us again of your faithful presence, we pray.
Call us, again, by the name that identifies us
as people of hope,
that all may rejoice in your goodness,
singing, “Blessed be the name of the Lord!”

Assurance of God’s Grace

For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,  saying,
“I will proclaim your name to my (siblings),
    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”
And again,
“I will put my trust in (God).”
And again,
“Here am I and the children whom God has given me.”
Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, … (Hebrews 2:11-14) 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.