Psalms in Worship—Psalm 51:1-17 with Joel 2:1-2, 12-14 A Litany of Confession and Assurance with Sung Refrain

Reader 1

Blow the trumpet in Zion;
    sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
    for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near—
a day of darkness and gloom,
   a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like [shadows] spread upon the mountains,
    a great and powerful army comes;
their like has never been from of old,
    nor will be again after them
    in ages to come.
—Joel 2:1-2 ^NRSVUE

Leader

All

We are like ash—dead, 
blown about, 
covering the world in shadows. 

Reader 1

Yet even now, says the Lord,
    return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
    rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,
   and relenting from punishment.

Who knows whether he will not turn and relent
    and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
    for the Lord your God?
—Joel 2:12-14 ^NRSVUE 

Silent Reflection
 

“Dans nos obscurités/Within Our Darkest Night” ^Taizé 

Reader 2

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy,
    blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
—Psalm 51:1-3

Leader

Do we know our transgressions? 
Can you name your sins? 

Silent Reflection
 

“Dans nos obscurités/Within Our Darkest Night” ^Taizé 

Reader 2

Against you, you alone, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
    and blameless when you pass judgment.

Indeed, I was born guilty,
    a sinner when my mother conceived me.

You desire truth in the inward being;
    therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
—Psalm 51:4-8

“Dans nos obscurités/Within Our Darkest Night” ^Taizé 

Reader 2

Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and put a new and right spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,
    and do not take your holy spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and sustain in me a willing spirit. 

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    and sinners will return to you.
—Psalm 51:9-13

Silent Reflection
 

Reader 2

Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
    O God of my salvation,
    and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

All

O Lord, open my lips,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.

Reader 2

For you have no delight in sacrifice;
    if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.

All

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

—Psalm 51:14-17 ^NRSVUE

“Dans nos obscurités/Within Our Darkest Night” ^Taizé 

Leader

Christ is the light
that pierces the darkness. 
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, 
the broken spirit is renewed. 
Life rises out of ashes. 

This is the truth of the gospel. 
Our sins are forgiven.