Here’s a prayer of confession followed by an assurance of forgiveness suitable for use on Epiphany 4B (January 29, 2012). They were written by Moira Laidlaw.
Prayer of Confession
(based on 1 Corinthians 8:1-13)
The Apostle Paul tells us that what is most essential in our conduct as Christians is not knowledge, but love. And that what we know is less important than our being known by God. So, we confess…
The times when we have used knowledge in ways
which put people down rather than build them up.
God, source of all knowledge, forgive us.
God, source of all knowledge, forgive us.
When we see people being exploited
because of lack of knowledge, and do nothing.
God, source of all goodness, forgive us.
God, source of all goodness, forgive us.
When we have idolised knowledge
at the expense of loving and caring for others.
God, source of all love, forgive us.
God, source of all love, forgive us.
When we have ridiculed others
for having a weak and feeble faith
because they appear to lack wisdom ;
God, source of all wisdom, forgive us.
God, source of all wisdom, forgive us.
(A time of silence for personal confession)
Forgive us, O God, for seeing good only in what we understand and accept as your truths. Remind us of Paul's words 'If I have all knowledge but do not have love, I am nothing.' Touch us, teach us, heal us and make us newly aware of your love and forgiveness. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
(based on John 3:17)
Hear and believe these words of grace:
God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world,
ut in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17)
And so I declare to you: In Jesus Christ we are loved, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God!
Thanks be to God!
— written by Moira Laidlaw, and posted on her Liturgies Online website.
For more prayers of confession/words of assurance on this blog, click on Confession or Words of assurance in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see the scriptural Confession Index at the upper right.
