Here’s a prayer of confession on a water theme. It comes from the Leader website.
A
Pouring Confession
Supplies needed:
- Five clear glass containers of varied shapes,
each 2/3 full of water
- A tall clear glass container large enough to
hold all or most of the water in the five small containers
- A large glass bowl
- Small votive holders with white or off-white
candles
Set up:
Off to the side of
the main visual environment, place a table covered a dark cloth (blue or
purple). Place the empty glass bowl at one end. At the other end of the table,
place the tall glass container. In between, arrange the five clear glass
containers filled with water. Two readers read the following prayer
antiphonally; a third person stands behind the table to pour out the water with
each confession.
Prayer
of Confession
1 & 2: Let us confess the
excuses we have made
for not living in the reality of the
kingdom of God:
(pause)
1: For our blindness to the
needs of others
2: and our preoccupation
with our own agenda,
Water is slowly
poured from one of the small containers into the tall glass one as the
congregation sings “Kyrie” (Lord, have mercy), or something similar.
1: for our failure to pay
attention to the still, small voice in our lives,
2: for our surrender to fear
and self-protection,
Water is slowly
poured from one of the small containers into the tall glass one as the
congregation sings “Kyrie” (Lord, have mercy), or something similar.
1: for harsh words spoken to
our friends,
2: and love withheld from
our enemies,
Water is slowly
poured from one of the small containers into the tall glass one as the
congregation sings “Kyrie” (Lord, have mercy), or something similar.
1: for seeking success
rather than faithfulness,
2: for praying without
acting,
Water is slowly
poured from one of the small containers into the tall glass one as the
congregation sings “Kyrie” (Lord, have mercy), or something similar.
1: For our life choices this
week
2: that have not contributed
to greater love and justice in the world.
Water is slowly
poured from one of the small containers into the tall glass one as the
congregation sings “Kyrie” (Lord, have mercy), or something similar.
While the next
lines of the prayer are offered, the person who has been pouring water lifts
the large water-filled container and slowly pours all the water into the large
bowl.)
1: O Lord,
you are our strength and
our might;
you have become our
salvation.
2: Listen to what God says:
“I have taken away the
judgments against you;
I will remove disaster
from you,
so that you will not
bear reproach for it.”
1 & 2: With joy we will draw water from the wells of
salvation.
~ “A Pouring
Confession” comes from Fall 2012 Advent-Epiphany Resources on the Leader website. http://www.leaderonline.org/supplement.htm
