Here’s
a prayer of confession and words of assurance inspired by the suggested
scripture readings for Proper 19, Year C – especially Luke 15:1-10 (the
parables of the lost sheep and lost coin). It comes from the Presbyerian
Church in Canada website.
Prayer of Confession
(inspired by Luke 15:
1-10)
God
of wisdom,
we
confess the foolishness of our ways,
and
our failure to follow you in your paths of right relationships –
with
you and with others.
We
have gone astray; we feel lost.
We
have upheld our own interests first, to the detriment of others.
We
have failed to be generous with the poor,
and
abandoned our efforts to bring about justice.
We
feel the stains of our sins, God;
have
mercy on us according to your steadfast love.
Wash
the sinfulness out of us,
and
help us to live more faithfully as your servants.
We
seek your unfailing Lordship
and
ask for your guiding hand on our lives.
You
are the immortal, invisible One;
to
you be honour and glory forever; amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Merciful
and loving God,
we
thank you for never losing hope for us.
When
we are lost, you are there on the look-out for us,
bringing
us back to you like the good shepherd that you are.
Your
Word tells us of the joy in heaven that awaits us.
May
this joy flow into our lives each day,
and
be faithfully reflected into the world around us.
Thanks
be to God, our Great Shepherd.
~
posted on the Presbyterian Church in
Canada website. http://presbyterian.ca/worship/
