Approach & Confession: Palm Sunday

Here’s a prayer of approach and confession for Palm/Passion Sunday

Prayer of Approach & Confession: Palm Sunday

Prayer of Approach

Lord Jesus Christ, we praise you with heart and life and voice, not only with outward signs such as palm branches or the occasional "Hosanna," but with lives truly turned towards you. It seems such a distance from this Palm Sunday in Australia to that day when you entered Jerusalem with the shouts of the crowd ringing in your ears. Welcomed as a king, yet riding on a lowly donkey. Greeted with cheers and acclamations which were so soon to turn to jeers and condemnation. From this side of the resurrection, we confidently believe that we could never have been part of the jeering crowd—but would we, if we had been there?
 

(silent reflection)

 
Confession

Lord Jesus Christ,

when our words and actions reflect a reluctance

to confess you publicly as Lord of our lives:
Forgive us.

When we fear that humbling ourselves

would be seen by others as weakness,
some kind of defect in our character:
Forgive us.                                

When we have betrayed your love for us through our lack of love

for you, for others, and for ourselves:
Forgive us.                               

When we find ourselves glossing over the events of your passion and death
because we look forward to Easter as a time to enjoy holidays and have fun. 
Forgive us.                                   

Lord Jesus Christ, fix your mind in us;
remake us in your likeness;
empty us of all that hinders us from following you
to where pain and suffering,
exploitation and injustice exist.

Gracious and loving God, empower us with the Holy Spirit

so that our lives continually glorify you

and our tongues forever confess Jesus as Lord.

This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

Hear the good news: "Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave...and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:6, 7a, 8b)

Through his obedience we are freed  from whatever sin enslaves us.
Thanks be to God!

— written by Moira Laidlaw, and posted on Liturgies Online. http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/

For more worship resources for Palm/Passion Sunday, click on Palm Sunday in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.