Merciful God, in your gracious presence we confess our sin

Merciful God, in your gracious presence we confess our sin and the sin of this world. We are a people torn apart by racial, national, social, and theological divisions. We fail to welcome the foreigner and the stranger. We take our blessings for granted and focus on our trials and our needs. Where you call us to tun back to give you thanks we turn back instead to our bad habits, ruts, and lazy assumptions. Jesus, Master, have mercy on us; heal and forgive us. Fill us with gratitude for your gracious deeds, and set us free to serve you in the world as agents of your reconciling love.