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 Colossians 3:

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Prayer of Confession: 

Patient and loving Father,

You have been faithful to us in all things, keeping your promises to those who belong to you throughout all generations. But Lord, we admit that we are not always faithful to you. We often let our selfishness take priority over our relationship with you and with others. Father, forgive us.

Holy Spirit, slow us down that we might pause to seek you first. Help us recognize how much we are loved and grow us in our steadfast love of Jesus. Let our weaknesses only draw us closer to our need for our Savior. May your deep love and mercy cause us to turn to you, to trust you, and to share in its abundance with those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: 

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

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.