Call to Confession: 

After Easter we get back into some of our regular rhythms, one of which is our time of Confession. This is a way we regularly take seriously our sin and lay it before God, both individually and together, so let’s first prepare our hearts by hearing these words from 1 Peter 3:

"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing."

Prayer of Confession: 

Heavenly Father,

We come before you as people who long to see and feel your presence with us.  Father, as we gaze toward you with a sense of wonder and praise, we also ask that you forgive us this week for the ways our gaze has been focused elsewhere.

Lord Jesus, thank you for living a life of unmatched goodness.  Holy Spirit, teach us how to live from that goodness, being a true blessing to all those around us. As the scripture reminded us, give us a tender heart and a humble mind that we might have unity among us. Be near to us this week, as we draw near to you.  Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: 

In the scriptures we find assurances of our forgiveness and encouragement in our walk.  So hear these words from Ephesians 1, and rest in its truth for us today:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him."