Call to Confession: 

Each Sunday we take a moment to confess and repent alongside one another, it’s a way we regularly take seriously our sin and lay it before God. Let’s prepare our hearts by hearing these words from Lamentations 3:

Remember my affliction and my wanderings,

    the wormwood and the gall!

My soul continually remembers it

    and is bowed down within me.

But this I call to mind,

    and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

    his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

    “therefore I will hope in him.”

Prayer of Confession: 

Almighty God, we praise you for your gentleness toward us.  Forgive us this week for the things we have done that turn our hearts away from you.  Instead let us remember that in our loneliness, you offer us your love.  In our waywardness, you offer us renewal.  In our weakness, you offer us your strength.  

May we not only enjoy these blessings you freely give us, but help us to use them to lighten the burden of others.  Give us gentle and compassionate hearts, that we might see those in need and work for their good.  And Lord, remind us to return to you again and again in both our need and our praise.  Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: 

In the scriptures we find assurances of our forgiveness and encouragement in our walk.  So hear these words from Lamentations 3 and rest in their truth for us:

For the Lord will not

    cast off forever,

but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion

    according to the abundance of his steadfast love;

for he does not afflict from his heart

    or grieve the children of men….

Let us test and examine our ways,

    and return to the Lord!

Let us lift up our hearts and hands

    to God in heaven.