Cycle A Easter 5

5/18/2014 Confession(s)

Sunday Title:  Greater Sunday

Sermon Title: “Before and After”

Previously:  

Sunday Title:  The Way Sunday

Sermon Title: If you are not on the path….

Sunday Title:  Prayer Sunday

Sermon Title: “Looking up”

Sunday Title:  Name Dropping Sunday

Sermon Title: “Who do you Know?”

Sunday Title:  Courage of Faith

Sermon Title: “The way, the truth and the life”

Scripture Cuttings:

Acts 7:55-60 While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

1 Peter 2:2-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 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.

John 14:1-14 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

Confession:

All may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of baptism

as the presiding minister begins:

P:  In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

P:  Lord you look for truth deep within us. (pause to contemplate our depth)

  We confess...

C: our courage fails when you ask us to be a holy nation.

We are unwilling to do inconvenient tasks,

  except for our own benefit.

Because of our lethargy and bad habits

  we deny your will be done.

Save us Lord from the sins we know in our hearts.

Save us Lord from the sins we hide.

    (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  Our Heavenly Father desires to show us mercy in our repentance and sends Christ Jesus the only Son of God to rescue us from our unfaithfulness. It is for Christ’s sake that our sins are forgiven. We are God’s own people and by the power of the Holy Spirit we may become again the living stones of God’s own spiritual house. This to the glory of  the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!

-or-

All may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of baptism

as the presiding minister begins:

P:  In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

P:  Lord, how can we take back what we have done? (pause for regretting)

  Merciful God...

C: only your righteousness delivers us

yet we will pretend to live clean lives,

  absent violence, rage and anger.

We stand aside when standing up is too risky.

  We look the other way instead of seeking your way.

Impressed we are with the loyalty of martyrs.

  Annoyed we are when daily life calls for a little devotion.

We can not even get past our own selves for prayer

  to ask for something in Jesus’ name.

Guilty we are, have mercy on us.

Ignorant we remain,

still, show us your saving grace.

    (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  God who makes us, also makes us worthy. Through Jesus Christ the Son of God, our sin are forgiven. We have been chosen because we know of God’s mercy, now we must choose to act as a royal priesthood, a holy nation to proclaim the one who calls us out of darkness into the marvelous light of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!