Litany of Confession: Ephesians 1

Here’s a prayer of confession based on Ephesians 1:3-14.  It was written by Moira Laidlaw.

Litany of Confession

(inspired by Ephesians 1:3-14)

We read in Ephesians that we were chosen by God

before the foundation of the world

to be holy and blameless before God in love.
Such a privilege...
Such a responsibility....
God chose us...to be holy and blameless.
We do try, but being holy all the time is not easy.
Forgive us Lord, when we fail.

We read that we are destined for adoption as God’s children through Jesus Christ...
Such a privilege...
Such a responsibility....
Our identity as members of God’s family should be apparent to others...
That means being recognizable as Christians through our words and deeds.
Forgive us Lord, when we fail

We also read that we were marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit

which is the guarantee of our inheritance as God’s own people...
Such a privilege...
Such a wonderful privilege,

knowing that the burden of living up to such an inheritance

has been taken off our shoulders

because of the grace which has been lavished upon us.

For God also promised that in Jesus

we have been forgiven according to the riches of his grace.
May we always be aware of the tremendous privilege

which has been bestowed upon us by God

and may our response to such blessings

be to live as grace-full and joy-full followers of Jesus,

our Lord and our Saviour. Amen
Assurance of Forgiveness

Hear again the good news:

Because of the riches of God’s grace:

in Jesus we have redemption through his blood,

the forgiveness of our trespasses—

all gifts of God’s generous and amazing grace.

Thanks be to God!

~ written by Moira Laidlaw, on Liturgies Online.  http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/ Visit that site for many other excellent lectionary-based worship resources.