Call to Confession
Scripture reminds us not to think of ourselves more highly than we should, for we fool only ourselves and obscure the image of God. When we confess our sin, God’s truth and life shines in us. Before God, with the people of God, let us confess to our brokenness. Let us pray.
Prayer of Confession
God, you are a storyteller, and you made us in your image. You call us to share your story in our words and in our actions.
But more often our lips are sealed. We are afraid to tell your story. We think we don’t know enough, and we are afraid of offending. We prefer to keep you to ourselves.
~silence~
Your word, O Lord, is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
Forgive us for letting the book gather dust on the shelf, and the story gather dust in our hearts.
Speak to us, and through us, Lord.
Help us to know you so well that we cannot help but love you, and to love you so much we cannot help but serve you, sharing your good news in every place, for it is in doing your will that we find perfect freedom. Amen.
Declaration of Forgiveness
The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting—God’s story began before time and continues through and beyond us. As people forgiven and free, let us believe and live this good news: In Jesus Christ, we are loved and can love. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL.
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