Prayer of Confession: Proper 17 C

Here’s an act of confession inspired by the scripture readings for Proper 17 C, especially Luke 14: 1, 7-14.  It was written by Thom Shuman.

Call to Reconciliation
Despite all the ways we speak of sin –

failures, mistakes, intended acts,

Scripture tells us that we are stubborn-hearted,

wanting only our way. 

But if we pause to listen to God,

if we open our mouths (and our hearts) to confess our sin,

God will fill our emptiness with forgiveness and hope.

Let us pray together, as we say,

Unison Prayer of Confession
We are always uncomfortable, Watching God, 

when you notice how we want to sit in the seats of honor.

We can be so proper, so good, so well-off,

that it is easy to imagine we are superior to the poor.

We are so busy completing our 'To Do' list each day,

that we forget to do good when we have the chance.

Forgive us, Welcoming God.

Fill our emptiness with your grace and humility

that we would spend our lives alongside Jesus, 

our Lord and Savior,

throwing a party for the poor, the damaged,

the prisoner, the lost, the oppressed.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
This is the good news:

after what God has done for us,

what can anyone or any thing do to us?

We are new people, graced by our loving God.
Forgiven, embraced, welcomed by our God, 

we will offer open hearts and serving hands 

to everyone we meet.

Thanks be to God.  Amen.

~ written by Thom Shuman, and posted on Lectionary Liturgies. http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/2010_08_01_archive.html