Cycle A Easter 4

5/11/2014 Confession

Sunday Title:  Shepherd Sunday

Sermon Title: Welcome Back Pastor (Uncle) Erik Hart

Previously:  

Sunday Title:  Abundant Sunday

Sermon Title: Real life. Real abundance.

Sunday Title:  Fold Sunday

Sermon Title: “In the Fold”

Sunday Title:  Shepherd Sunday

Sermon Title: “Stolen from the Flock”

Sunday Title:  Eastern Conference Seminarians Sunday

Sermon Title: “one more time” “Within the Heart”

Scripture Cuttings:

Acts 2:42-47 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd

1 Peter 2:19-25 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

John 10:1-10 I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

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:  We are the sheep, let us trust the Lord our Shepherd as we confess our unfaithfulness. (pause for trust building)  Dear Lord...

C: you long to gather us in,

  but we stray in other directions.

Our path is of greed, indulgence, and false conviction.

We laugh at what is wicked,

  pretending our maturity saves us from bad influence,

    and so we help the causes of many,

      who would steal and destroy your children.

We will not suffer the slightest trimming of our comfort,

  to walk in righteous paths for your name sake.

Forgive us when we recognize we are lost.

Save us when we are oblivious and aimless.

    (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  The Lord is our shepherd, we shall not want. Christ Jesus bore our sins in his very body, on the cross, so that becoming free from our sins, we might live for righteousness. Yes, our sins are forgiven. We have been healed and returned to the shepherd and the guardian of our souls. 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:  Let us present ourselves to God as we are. (pause to remember who we are)

  I am like sheep who has gone astray...

C: I follow the voice of the stranger,

  even though you call me by name.

I fear evil in the shadow of things different,

  even though you are with me.

I am unwilling to endure

  for righteousness and faithfulness,

    when you have been so very good to me.

Forgive Lord the sins I know in my heart.

Save me Lord from the sins I hide. (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  Lord lead me beside still waters...

C: restore my soul.

P:  God is powerful and merciful, sending Christ Jesus: God’s own Son, to bear our sins in his body on the cross. God has freed us from our sins, healed our wounds, and returned us to the paths of righteousness. In the name 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!