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Call to Confession

Having approached the throne of God in worship, God’s holiness illuminates our unworthiness. Our gracious and loving God calls us then to confess the sin revealed to us through the working of the Holy Spirit. 

Featured Call to Confession Resources

Person kneeling in prayer

This call to worship originally appeared in "Amazing Love—Advent 2: All in the Family."Call to ConfessionLord, you were favorable to your land;    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.You forgave the iniquity of your people;    you pardoned all their sin.Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,    for he will speak peace to his people,    to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,    that his glory may dwell in our land.Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;    righteousness and peace will kiss each other.Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,    and righteousness will look down from the sky.The Lord will give what is good,    and our land will yield its increase.Righteousness will go before him    and will make a path for his steps.—Psalm 85:1–2, 8–13 NRSVUEPrayer of ConfessionLord, we confess that sometimes we do not feel your presence. We often live in distress and sorrow.O Lord, let your face shine on us again. Show your might and deliver us from evil, that we may experience your peace. Amen.Revised Common LectionaryYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 14 (19)Year B: Advent—Second Sunday of AdventYear B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 10 (15)Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 12 (17)

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Person kneeling in prayer

This call to confession originally appeared in "Amazing Love—Advent 1: God's Love Rejected."Call to Confession: Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,    you who lead Joseph like a flock!You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth     before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.Stir up your might,    and come to save us!Restore us, O God;    let your face shine, that we may be saved.O Lord God of hosts,    how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?You have fed them with the bread of tears    and given them tears to drink in full measure.You make us the scorn[a] of our neighbors;    our enemies laugh among themselves.Restore us, O God of hosts;    let your face shine, that we may be saved.But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,    the one whom you made strong for yourself.Then we will never turn back from you;    give us life, and we will call on your name.Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;    let your face shine, that we may be saved.—Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19 NRSVUE Revised Common LectionaryYear A: Advent—Fourth Sunday of AdventYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 22 (27)Year B: Advent—First Sunday of AdventYear C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 15 (20)Year C: Advent—Fourth Sunday of Advent

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This article is part of a series that contains the following article and resources: Genuine Sorrow...Wholehearted Joy—Confession: The Why, When, and How of ConfessionLent 1 | Lent 2 | Lent 3 | Lent 4 | Lent 5 | Palm/Passion Sunday|This service of confession is part of a series for the season of Lent based on the texts of the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C, but can be used for non-lectionary services as well. Each prayer begins and concludes with a stanza from "God, Be Merciful to Me" Unknown a setting of Psalm 51. (See text in italics.) For thoughtful fodder on the place of confession in worship see the article by the same author, "Genuine Sorrow...Wholehearted Joy—Confession: The Why, When, and How of Confession". PALM / PASSION SUNDAYScriptureIsaiah 50:4-9aPsalm 31:9-16 or Psalm 118:1-2,19-29Philippians 2:5-11Luke 19:28-40 or Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49Psalm 118:1-2,19-29Call to Confession (see 1 Peter 2:4-7)The very stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. Come now to Christ, that living stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious. Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, let us confess our sins before God and one another.Prayer of ConfessionGod, be merciful to me; on thy grace I rest my plea. Plenteous in compassion thou, blot out my transgressions now; my transgressions I confess; grief and guilt my soul oppress; I have sinned against thy grace, and provoked thee to thy face.O Lord, who on this day entered the rebellious city which later rejected you:we confess that our wills are as rebellious as Jerusalem's, that our faith is often more show than substance, that our hearts are in need of cleansing. Have mercy on us, Son of David, Savior of our lives. Help us to lay at your feetall that we have and all that we are, trusting you to forgive what is sinful, to heal what is broken, to welcome our praises, and to receive us as your own.Gracious God, my heart renew, make my spirit right and true; from my sins O hide thy face, blot them out in boundless grace. Cast me not away rom thee; let thy Spirit dwell in me; thy salvations joy impart; steadfast make my willing heart.Assurance of Pardon (see 1 Peter 2:9-10)Once you were not a people,but now you are God's people;once you had not received mercy,but now you have received mercy.You are God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.Receive the good news of the gospel: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

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Call to Confession Resources

God calls us to confess our sin.

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