Here is an act of confession from the United Church of Christ website. It’s based on the scripture readings for the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 21A, Ordinary 26A), primarily Philippians 2:1-13, where Paul exhorts us to have the same attitude as Christ.
(based on Philippians 2: 1-13)
Invitation to Confession
One: Called to follow Christ, we are called to a life of humility.
But what does that even mean?
Do we seek to exalt ourselves – to be lifted above others?
Does our sense of success depend on someone else’s failure?
Does our love of God entirely guide our relationships?
Do we twist service into convenience and leisure,
ignoring the idea that to serve is to be a servant?
Silence
Let us pray:
Prayer of Confession:
All: Disturb the habits of our sin, O God.
Rouse us from the sleep that cradles sin’s embrace.
One: In the name of Jesus, we pray –
Show us your ways.
Highlight what we can change,
All: and change what we cannot.
Silence
Assurance of Pardon
One: Good friends:
God is at work in you!
God is alive in us!
God lives – but sin is dead.
And our sins are forgiven,
through Christ, our Savior.
All: Alleluia! Amen.
— from In the Name of Jesus…. Service Prayers for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, posted on the Worship Ways page of the United Church of Christ website.
For other prayers of confession based on the texts for September 25, 2011, see also Act of Confession for September 25, 2011, Act of Confession: Proper 21A, Prayer of Confession: Called to Love , or Prayer of Confession: Proper 21A. You could also click on Confession or words of assurance in the list of “Labels” at the right side of the page, or see this Confession & Assurance index.
For more worship resources related to the texts for September 25, 2011 (the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost), click on Proper 21A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.
