Prayer of Confession, Pentecost, Year C

Call to Confession

I will give them one heart and put a new spirit within them;[c] I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 so that they may follow my statutes and keep my ordinances and obey them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20) Let us confess our sin before God, surrendering our hearts to God's transformative power.

Prayer of Confession

Forgive us, God.
We are bewildered.
We hear you speaking to us
and to our various concerns 
and fears
and frustrations,
and we sneer. 
Could this be real?
Are the prophets and apostles
who carry your Truth
drunk?
Could you truly be calling us
to radical love
and transforming ministry?
God, help us if you are!
Who are we
that you should entrust us
with the task of prophesy in this time?
Send your Spirit, we pray,
like a rush of violent wind
as you did on the day of Pentecost.
We need to feel you here ...
around us,
within us, 
among us.
Remove our hearts of stone, O God,
and give us hearts of flesh. 
Remind us who we are
and whose we are,
that all we do will bring glory
​to your name.

Assurance of God's Grace

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water[a] of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.  (Titus 3:4-5) 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.