By grace, through Jesus, God calls us

Leader: By grace, through Jesus, God calls us His children so that we might become more like Him, living as holy people who fear the Lord and serve one another in humility and love. When we honestly examine our hearts, we must confess before our Heavenly Father and one another that we have failed in this calling. Together as His children let us take refuge in His infinite mercy, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ.

Silence for personal confession

Pastor: Merciful God, we confess that although we want to look, live and love more like Jesus,

People: too often we look, live and love more like the world around us. 

Pastor: You give us the simple command to love one another, 

People: and we complicate it with rules, exceptions, and doubts. 

Pastor: You call us to follow You by serving and caring for Your people,

People: but when love is hard and obedience difficult, we follow our own path instead of Yours. Forgive us. Teach us to walk in Your ways, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

Leader: Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is how God showed his love to us: He sent his one and only Son into the world so that we could have life through him.  This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God’s love for us. He sent his Son to die in our place to take away our sins.

Forgiven and restored, may He keep you in His grace by the Holy Spirit, lead you to greater faith and obedience, and bring you to live with Him forever, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

People: Amen.