Here’s a thoughtful act of confession based on the suggested scripture readings for the third Sunday of Lent, Year B (2012), especially Exodus 20: 1-17. It was written by Thom Shuman and posted on Lectionary Liturgies.
Call to Reconciliation
Perhaps we have spoken words which harm another. It may be we have failed to honor another of God's children. Maybe we have let our fears, our worries, our desires come between us and God. Whatever we might have done, God waits to listen to us, to offer us grace and healing. Join me as we pray together saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
Even with those simple commandments, Eternal Love, we manage to get it wrong. We misuse your name on an almost daily basis, and dishonor our friends and neighbors by talking behind their backs. We hunger for what others have, and think we can put you in a box, storing you away on a shelf. We find little enough time for our families, for ourselves, you - much less setting aside an entire day for that rest you call Sabbath.
Forgive us, Abiding Love. We think we are so wise with the choices we make, only to end up with all that keeps us from you. Your Word has come, to fill our speech with grace, with hope, with peace. As we journey to Jerusalem, may we invite others to join us as we seek to follow Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior.
Silence is kept
Unison Prayer of Confession
Even with those simple commandments, Eternal Love, we manage to get it wrong. We misuse your name on an almost daily basis, and dishonor our friends and neighbors by talking behind their backs. We hunger for what others have, and think we can put you in a box, storing you away on a shelf. We find little enough time for our families, for ourselves, you - much less setting aside an entire day for that rest you call Sabbath.
Forgive us, Abiding Love. We think we are so wise with the choices we make, only to end up with all that keeps us from you. Your Word has come, to fill our speech with grace, with hope, with peace. As we journey to Jerusalem, may we invite others to join us as we seek to follow Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Day to day, God offers us mercy and hope.
Day to day, God offers us mercy and hope.
Moment to moment,
we are surround by God's never-ending love.
Friends, trust this Good News for you!
God takes our brokenhearted prayers
God takes our brokenhearted prayers
and crafts them into words of grace, of joy, of peace.
Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.
— written by Thom Shuman, and posted on his Lectionary Liturgies blog. Visit there for many other wonderful lectionary-based worship resources.
For more worship resources for March 11, 2012 (the third Sunday of Lent), click on Lent 3 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.
