This call to confession and assurance of pardon originally appeared in the worship service "Good News!—Lent 2: Worth Dying For."
Call to Confession
This is the [insert week] Sunday in the season of Lent, a time when Christians traditionally have focused on repentance. Of course, any time is a good time to repent of sin, but for centuries the followers of Jesus have used this time leading up to Good Friday and Easter to carefully consider their lives and what is in their hearts. With this in mind, hear these words from Psalm 139: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23–24, NIV).
Prayer of Confession
Assurance of Pardon
Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
—Psalm 130:7–8 NIV
Revised Common Lectionary
Year A: Lent—Fifth Sunday in Lent
