Here’s a responsive prayer of confession based on Isaiah 64: 1-9, one of the suggested scripture readings for the first Sunday of Advent, Year B (November 27, 2011). It was written by Thom Shuman.
Responsive Prayer of Confession
(based on Isaiah 64: 1-9)
Holy God of Advent,
you come near to us,
yet we continue to seal our hearts
with indifference to a suffering world.
Tear open our hearts,
and make us more compassionate.
You approach us with bundles of mercy
to kindle our hope, but we continue to build
our lives with the bricks of bitterness.
Tear open our anger, so we might become
more forgiving.
You draw near, longing to embrace us,
but we fold our arms, closing ourselves off
from those all around us.
Tear open our souls, so we might become
children of Advent.
God, shaper-of-our-lives:
have mercy;
Jesus, Word-which-does-not-pass-away:
fill us with your grace;
Holy Spirit, Giver-of-the-Light-of-peace:
Shine through our lives.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Even now, God approaches us, mercy transcending anger, hope overcoming despair, life triumphing over death. This is good news, my friends; this is news of great joy for each of us.
Enriched in every grace, blessed with joy and hope, transformed by love, we will live as people of Advent. Thanks be to God. Amen.
— written by Thom Shuman, and posted on his excellent Lectionary Liturgies website. Visit that site for other great lectionary-based worship resources.
For more worship resources for the first Sunday of Advent (November 27, 2011), click on Advent I Year B in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page, or visit this index of Advent Worship Resources.
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.
