A Prayer of Confession
Prayer of Confession
Loving God, we gather today rich in blessing.
Forgive us, Lord, if we believe that we merit
the wealth and comforts that we enjoy.
Forgive us, our God, for comfortably closing
our eyes to the faces of the poor that stare in our direction.
Lord, have mercy on us.
With bellies full of grain and meat, we offer
token gestures to the hungry in our world,
and we feel we have done enough. Forgive us, God,
for keeping a distance between "us" and "them,"
for closing our ears to the cries of the hungry.
Lord, have mercy on us.
With hands tightly clasping our treasures on
earth, we cannot reach out to our oppressed
brothers and sisters around this world.
Forgive us for clinging to our own possessions
rather than to you. Unite us with hearts of
thanksgiving, that we may work to insure
freedom and justice for all.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Hear what our God has to say to all people:
"The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those ... who repent of their sins" (Isa. 59:20)
The Law of God
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:12-13).
—Submitted by Ideal Park Christian Reformed Church, Wyoming, Michigan
