Confession: You are Still Speaking

Here’s a prayer of confession from the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website.

Confession

In the lives of neighbors who suffer brokenness and pain:
We confess you are still speaking!

In the struggle of the poor whose rights are not honored:
We confess you are still speaking!

In a world crying out for wisdom, love and mercy:
We confess you are still speaking!

In a world calling for the blessing of truth:
We confess you are still speaking!  Bless us to hear!

Let us confess together:
We confess that in our lives we often hide behind
our work and play, schools and jobs, fun and fashion. 
We let ourselves get so busy
that we forget the cause of the poor and the suffering.
We confess we allow the powers of this world
to seduce us into selfishness
and silence our witness.                                 
Teach us to champion the cause for justice for all,
strengthen us to love our neighbor
and speak truth no matter the penalty.  Amen.

Assurance of God’s Love

The Word of God assures us
that we are able to love through the Spirit of Christ. 
Let us go from this place with authority,
knowing that God’s Word gives us strength
to love our neighbors near and far
and power to speak up for those who are broken.  
Thanks to the Word of God! 

~ from Empowered to Love and Speak Truth, written by LT Leticia Rouser, a chaplain in the United States Navy. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/