Prayer of Confession, Reign of Christ Sunday, Year B

Call to Confession

the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17) Let us confess the places where we have failed to live into the righteousness, peace, and joy of the Spirit in the world, and seek God's mercy.

Prayer of Confession

Before the throne, we stand, Almighty God,
and King of kings.
We are the summoners
who demand answers
about your authority 
and where it lies.
We are the parade-throwers
who are calling into question
everything
we thought we believed
because angry leaders, 
drunk on power
and afraid of being exposed for their unholy greed,
have denied the truth
and led the people astray,
and all in the name of "righteousness."
Forgive us, God. 
Set your kingdom on earth to rights
through the words of the Prophet.
Grant us the grace of the Great High Priest
that we may live in the hope of new life.
Pardon us by the power of the King, we pray,
and release us to live as restored citizens
according to the will of God in Jesus Christ.

Assurance of God's Grace

The Lord has taken away the judgments against you,
    he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
    you shall fear disaster no more.  (Zephaniah 3:15)
Friends, the King of Israel has come, and will come again. In his name, we are saved from the disastrous consequences of our sin. 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.