Prayer of Confession, P+5C

Call to Confession

But the children rebelled against me; they did not follow my statutes and were not careful to observe my ordinances, by whose observance everyone shall live; they profaned my Sabbaths. Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. (Ezekiel 20:21)  Let us confess the ways in which we have failed to follow God's statutes and seek God's mercy:

Prayer of Confession

You warned us, O God,
in order to turn us back to your law,
yet we acted presumptuously
and did not obey your commandments
but sinned against your ordinances,
by the observance of which a person shall live.
We turned a stubborn shoulder
and stiffened our necks and would not obey. (Nehemiah 9:29)
You said "love the Lord your God,"
but we worship idols,
refusing to accept your law of love as the law of the land.
You said, "love your neighbor as yourself,"
but we spew hatred, 
beating the other over the head with righteous indignation
and arming ourselves with weapons of war.
You said, "love" over and over again,
but we walked by without looking,
without stopping,
without consoling or showing compassion or offering aid.
Forgive us, O God.
Forgive our lack of mercy.
Forgive our insistence on our own way.
In your mercy, do not treat us as we treat others,
but change our hearts, we pray, and put a right spirit within us.

Assurance of God's Grace
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17 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.