Here’s
a responsive prayer of confession/words of forgiveness inspired by Luke 15:1-7
(the parable of the lost sheep). It was
written by Henrietta Stith Andrews.
Prayer of Confession
(inspired by Luke 15:
1-10)
O
Most Patient God,
we
recognize how much we need you for life itself.
But
how often have we behaved
as
if we did not know or even care about you?
How
often have we become the ones who do not carry out justice?
How
often have we tried to dominate others
even
as you stand with them?
How
often have we participated in the desolation of your creation
by
our treatment of the heavens, the earth and its waters?
Forgive
us for these times when we have lost our way.
All
Loving God, we want to be among those whom you seek.
Shower
your mercy upon us.
Find
us, and lead us safely home to faithfulness.
Words
of Assurance
My
friends, when we are lost, all is not lost.
God
is seeking us, ready to turn our lives around,
Gathering
us in to the people of God.
Let
us rejoice in God’s mercy! Amen.
~
written by Henrietta Stith Andrews, in From
Despair to Rejoicing: Service Prayers for the 17th Sunday after
Pentecost. Posted on the Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/
