Here’s a beautiful act of confession based on the lectionary readings for the first Sunday of Lent, Year B (February 26, 2012). It was written by Thom Shuman.
Call to Reconciliation
God takes broken promises and turns them into vows of faithfulness. God takes our biggest failings and shapes lives of service. God listens to our prayers of confession and changes them into songs of mercy. Let us come to the One who pours forgiveness into our lives, praying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
We admit we are hesitant to walk to Jerusalem and beyond with you, God of Glory. In a world where we worry about tomorrow before enjoying today, we race by your moments of silence, of learning. In that flood of worries, which can overwhelm us, we may miss that assurance that you have not cut us off from your grace. In the deserts of our desires, we may ignore that feast of hope, of joy, of life you offer to us.
Forgive us and have mercy on us, Gentle Guardian of our souls. In humility, may we offer our lives to others. In love, may we share your grace with everyone we meet. In hope, may we wait for you all our days, as you come to us in the life and joy of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
God takes broken promises and turns them into vows of faithfulness. God takes our biggest failings and shapes lives of service. God listens to our prayers of confession and changes them into songs of mercy. Let us come to the One who pours forgiveness into our lives, praying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
We admit we are hesitant to walk to Jerusalem and beyond with you, God of Glory. In a world where we worry about tomorrow before enjoying today, we race by your moments of silence, of learning. In that flood of worries, which can overwhelm us, we may miss that assurance that you have not cut us off from your grace. In the deserts of our desires, we may ignore that feast of hope, of joy, of life you offer to us.
Forgive us and have mercy on us, Gentle Guardian of our souls. In humility, may we offer our lives to others. In love, may we share your grace with everyone we meet. In hope, may we wait for you all our days, as you come to us in the life and joy of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
In this place we find God's word, God's way,
God's love, God's forgiveness.
What more do we need to sustain us
as we continue as pilgrims along the Way?
In every wilderness, on every road;
in every moment, in every life;
in every journey, in every heart,
we receive the daily bread we need—
In every wilderness, on every road;
in every moment, in every life;
in every journey, in every heart,
we receive the daily bread we need—
God’s hope, God's mercy, God's joy.
Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.
— written by Thom Shuman, and posted on his wonderful Lectionary Liturgies blog. http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com/
For more worship resources for February 26, 2012 (the first Sunday of Lent), click on Lent 1 B in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.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.
