Prayers of Confession on Service

Most holy and merciful Father, we your wayward children do humbly confess our shortcomings and our sin. All we like sheep have gone astray and have turned every one to his or her own way—We have lived too much for ourselves and not for you. We have not loved our neighbors as we should, nor faithfully followed our Master in unselfish service. But will you pardon all our offenses. Create within us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. May we go on our way with gladness, assured of your compassion; and forgetting the things which are behind, may we forget those things which are behind us and pressing toward the mark of our high calling in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. 

A Book of Worship for Free Churches, Language Modernized by Stuart Strachan Jr.

Lord of Hosts, we remember the words of your servant, James: whoever knows the good they ought to do and does not do it, sins. Oh Lord, have mercy on us. Too often we have failed to act when the world needed us. Too often we have ignored the voices of the marginalized. Too often we have failed to proclaim the truth in love. Please forgive us for our inaction. In the silence, we consider the people we could have served but chose to ignore. We confess those memories to you now… 

Austin D. Hill

Gracious and compassionate God, You bless us with unfailing mercy, yet we have not followed You well. You call us to love, but we do not listen to You. You command us to serve, but we walk away from those in need. You direct us to worship, but we give our allegiance to idols. Forgive us, O Lord, and renew us. Help us to live as new creations in You. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Gracious God, your Son Jesus came not be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. He is our Good Shepherd, whose leadership is less about the love of power, and more about the power of love. This same Jesus called us to follow Him, to lead as He did, to serve as He served, showing others His Kingdom way of life. But we need your forgiveness for thoughtless words, said without love, for hurried decisions, made without your wisdom, for destructive moments, when anger tore, for selfish motives, when our power wounded another. By your mercy, focus our eyes on you, Lord Jesus, And tune our ears to your Holy Spirit. Let our greatest passion be compassion, our greatest strength be love, So that in leading, we never fail to follow You, Through Christ our Lord we pray, Amen.

Submitted by Dustin Ray

Leader: Scripture teaches us that there is one good and holy God; that we were created in God’s image, to commit ourselves to Him, to do good works, to reflect His glory, and to know Him as loving Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Genesis 1:27, Ephesians 2:10, Isaiah 60:1-3, 1 John 3:1, Luke 2:11)

All: I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.

Leader: The scripture teaches that God has given us commands for our own good and the good of our community, but that each of us has failed in thought, word and deed. We have sinned, and the punishment is death. (Deuteronomy 6:24-25, Romans 7:18-20, Romans 6:23)

All: I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.

Leader: The scripture teaches us that Jesus Christ has ransomed us from this punishment through his sacrificial death on the cross; that death has lost its sting; that there is no fear; that love abounds; that someday every single person will see Jesus for who He really is; and that anyone who believes these truths is a new creation whose life is on a new trajectory: the old life has passed away and new life has come! (Mark 10:45, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, 1 John 4:18, Philippians 2:10-11, 2 Corinthians 5:17)

All: I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Lord Almighty, you alone are worthy of our praise. Yet we worship idols. We place our desires, passions, and ambitions in a more prominent position than we place you. We fail to serve you alone. We fail to revere you. We fail to enjoy your presence. Please help us today to place you in the rightful position in our lives as we confess our sins to you…  

Time of silent reflection.           

Submitted by Austin D. Hill

Eternal God,
whose covenant with us is never broken, we confess that we fail to fulfill your will. Though you have bound yourself to us, we will not bind ourselves to you.
In Jesus Christ you serve us freely,
but we refuse your love
and withhold ourselves from others.

Marvelous and merciful God, Your Son modeled leadership and servanthood for us. But we confess we have elevated our desires and plans over Your will for our lives and for Your world. We want authority and power over others to use for our own purposes. Forgive us for our half-hearted devotion and our double-minded attention to Your way. Remind us You desire servants first and foremost. Enable us to serve in the name of Jesus, the One who came to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. In His name we pray. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Almighty God, in Jesus Christ you called us to be a servant people, but we do not do what you command. We are often silent when we should speak, and useless when we could be useful. Have mercy on us, O God. Forgive us and free us from sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eternal and Glorious God, Your grace calls us toward growth and service in You. Yet today we acknowledge the many times we have forgotten Your mercy and rejected Your love. Forgive us when we sin against You Through our thoughts, words, and deeds. Forgive us when we neglect to think, speak, and do as You desire. Renew and restore us, O God. Help us to run the race You put before us with perseverance, patience, and passion. In His name we pray. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Call to Confession: The prophet asks the Lord’s people, “Who can endure the Lord’s coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.” Let us come before Almighty God in humility, confessing our sins.

Prayer of Confession: Holy God, we claim to be without fault, meanwhile we neglect the orphan, the widow, the destitute, and the stranger. Like the people of Judah, we care only of justice when it impacts us. We assume that your covenant faithfulness allows us to live however we want. Refine us, O Lord. Mold us and shape us. Purify us through the saving power of your Son, Jesus, as we silently confess our self-centered ways to you now.

Austin D. Hill