Prayer of Confession: Proper 22A

Here’s another wonderful act of confession written by Thom Shuman, and based on the lectionary readings for Proper 22A (October 2, 2011).  Be sure to visit his website, Lectionary Liturgies, for more great resources.

Call to Reconciliation

We are good at rules:

making them and then breaking them.

Paul reminds us that,

when we gain Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior,

we receive exactly what we need—

forgiveness, grace, hope.

Let us confess our sins to God,

that we might know God's healing love for us!

Unison Prayer of Confession
If we were to name all the gods we have before you, Rock of Redemption, we would be here a very long time. We elevate politicians into saviors, though they are as broken as we are. We misuse your name so much during the day, we have trouble speaking to you in prayer at night. We are so busy, we do not notice how creation witnesses to your goodness and grace.

Forgive us, God our Hope. Help us to let go of what we value most, so we may open our emptiness, our hearts, our lives to the healing and loving presence of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Persistently, patiently, lovingly,

God pours out grace and joy into our lives,

healing our brokenness, forgiving our sin.
Loved, we are sent to love;
Forgiven, we are freed to forgive;
Graced, we can offer our gifts to everyone we meet.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

— written by Thom Shuman, and posted on his blog, Lectionary Liturgies. Visit his site for many other wonderful prayers and readings. 

For more worship resources related to this text, or other texts for October 2, 2011 (the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost), click on Proper 22A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page. 

For other resources related to confession, click on Confession or words of assurance in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page, or see this Confession & Assurance index.