Pentecost Prayer of Confession

Prayer of Confession for Pentecost

Merciful God,

the gift of Jesus’ life in us is visible

in the way we witness to the fruitfulness of that gift.  

We know that the fruit of the Spirit consists of
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Yet, so often we put conditions on our love—

and joy and peace are difficult to discern

when our words and actions deny their presence.

Response:

Everyone either sings the first two lines of:
Spirit of the living God
Fall afresh on me        
             or says together
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and and put a new and right spirit in me. (Ps. 51:10)

By desiring instant results to most things these days,

we confess that we forget what it’s like to be patient. 

We find ourselves neglecting the needs of others

because we run out of time to be kind to other than ourselves.
Spirit of the living God...   or   Create in me ...

When we persistently make self-centred decisions 

rather than Christ-centred ones, 

our understanding of your goodness and faithfulness is weakened

and our discipleship lacks credibility.
Spirit of the living God ...   or Create in me a ...

In this aggressive world,

it’s easy to believe one can’t get anywhere

by exercising a spirit of gentleness or even self-control.
Spirit of the living God ...   or Create in me ...

Gracious and merciful God,

grant us your forgiveness and your love

so that we may truly care for one another.
Refresh and renew us with the Holy Spirit

so that we are fruitful and vital disciples of Jesus Christ. Amen

Assurance of Forgiveness

Those who are in Christ are a new creation:

everything old has passed away;
see, everything has become new! 

All this is from God

with whom we have been reconciled through Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17-18)
Thanks be to God!

—Moira Laidlaw, on her Liturgies Online website.  Visit her site for many excellent liturgies and resources for Pentecost Sunday.