Confession Prayer

During our series, Stranger than Fiction, we will be using this prayer to corporately acknowledge our shortcomings and ask God to forgive us.

Minister: O loving God, you draw us with cords of compassion, and bands of love for we have wandered from your ways and forgotten your promises. Because you first loved us, you offered us all your blessings when you announced…
“Blessed are the poor in spirit”

People: but we have been rich in pride.

Minister: You promise, “Blessed are those who mourn”

People: but we have not paused with the sorrow of our rebellion against you.

Minister: You promise, “Blessed are the meek”

People: but we are a stiff-necked people, living as if we deserve anything.

Minister: You promise, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”

People: but we are filled to the full with many other things.

Minister: You promise, “Blessed are the merciful”

People: but we are harsh and impatient, critical and intolerant.

Minister: You promise, “Blessed are the pure in heart”

People: but we have impure hearts, bent towards others instead of you.

Minister: You promise, “Blessed are the peacemakers”

People: but we have chosen to be peace-fakers and peace-breakers.

Minister: You promise, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness”

People: but our lives do not challenge the world around us.

Minister: You promise “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you
and falsely say allkinds of evil against you because of me”

People: but our words and choices have hardly made it known that we are yours.

Minister: Your promises are sure, yet your ways are not our ways. You do not delight in holding our sins against us, but instead longing for us to grow into greater maturity, you run towards us with forgiveness.

People: Forgive us Lord, for what we have done and for what we have left undone. Jesus, we believe in the power of the cross to cleanse us and we receive your gift of freedom. Help us to forgive ourselves, as you forgive us, so that we may also be able to forgive others. Amen