Creating God, still Center of the world you have made, we come to you in this season of turning and returning. We do not know how to seek you with our whole hearts, but we know you are our source and our destiny. In the midst of life, we return to you, we turn toward you. We thank you that your receive even the broken hearted, the troubled conscience, the conflicted spirit. Seeking you in secret, may we turn around to honor you among humanity; through Jesus Christ, our path homeward to you. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Rend your hearts and not your garments; return to your God.
For God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
I know well my misdeeds, and my sin is ever before me.
Wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
Let us ask God to break forth light into the dark places of our hearts and confront us with hidden and secret sins, all that we keep in the dark.
O God, open our hearts.
Our preoccupation with ourselves
O God, open our hearts.
Our lustful imaginations, our secret ambitions,
O God, open our hearts.
The buried grudge, the half-acknowledged enmity,
O God, open our hearts.
The bitterness of some past loss not offered to you.
O God, open our hearts.
The private Comforts to which we cling,
O God, open our hearts.
The fear of failure which saps our initiative,
O God, open our hearts.
The pessimism that is an insult to your will and power.
O God, open our hearts. Here and now, O Holy One, we bring our secret sins to you, we lie open in your sight. Let your piercing light be also our healing, for the sake of Jesus Christ, who both taught us and brought us your forgiveness. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment