Confession Prayer Week of April 13, 2025

Call to Confession: 

Today is Palm Sunday, so as we enter into our time of confession together, let’s read that story from scripture in Matthew 21:

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5 

“Say to the daughter of Zion,

‘Behold, your king is coming to you,

    humble, and mounted on a donkey,

    on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Prayer of Confession: 

Holy God,

Today we take time to remember who you are.  You are a God who fulfilled what was spoken long ago.  The King came, humble and on a donkey, and the crowds praised him for coming in the name of the Lord.

Jesus, forgive us for how often we forget to praise you for who you are and what you have done.  Forgive us for not following in your footsteps of humility and faithfulness.  Help us to remember today, the joy that awaits us when we rest in you.

Holy Spirit, help us to walk in the ways that Jesus redefined as our fitting response to being your people.  Help us to do that together.  Lord, we bless your name and give you thanks, for you are good.  Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: 

In the scriptures we find assurances of our forgiveness and encouragement in our walk. So hear these words from Psalm 118 and rest in their truth for us today:

Open to me the gates of righteousness,

    that I may enter through them

    and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;

    the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me

    and have become my salvation.

The stone that the builders rejected

    has become the cornerstone.

This is the Lord's doing;

    it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day that the Lord has made;

    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Save us, we pray, O Lord!

    O Lord, we pray, give us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

    We bless you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God,

    and he has made his light to shine upon us…

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

    you are my God; I will extol you.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    for his steadfast love endures forever!