| Opening Responses | |
| Reader | We have said to God – |
| “Give me what I deserve – what is rightfully mine” | |
| and when He seems to refuse, | |
| we say that He has not answered our prayer: | |
| ALL | YET JESUS SAYS: |
| DO NOT BE AFRAID. | |
| OUR FATHER KNOWS OUR NEEDS. | |
| IT IS OUR FATHER’S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE US THE KINGDOM. | |
| Reader | We have said to God – |
| “ I have sinned against You and against heaven. | |
| I no longer deserve to be called Your son – your daughter" | |
| and have not listened to God’s words of love – | |
| of tenderness – of forgiveness | |
| ALL | YET JESUS SAYS: |
| I DID NOT COME INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN IT | |
| BUT TO SAVE IT | |
| TRUST IN GOD – AND TRUST IN ME. | |
| Reader | We have said to God – |
| “It is not fair that You treat sinners so well – | |
| haven’t I served You faithfully all this time? – | |
| and what have You given to me for my trouble?" | |
| ALL | AND JESUS SAYS: |
| THIS IS MY BODY GIVEN FOR YOU; | |
| THIS IS MY BLOOD POURED OUT FOR YOU | |
| FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. | |
| Reader | In the name of Jesus who gave his life for us |
| we ask God to stretch out his arm – | |
| to reach beyond our selfishness – | |
| our desire to live in independence from him – | |
| to touch and turn our hearts | |
| and feed our yearning to be reconciled to him | |
| ALL | AMEN |
| Scripture Reading - The Prodigal Son (Luke 5: 1-3, 11-32) | |
| Sung Response - (e.g. Come back to me) | |
| Reflection or Time of Silence | |
| Responses of Repentance | |
| ALL | WE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER |
| IN THE UNITY OF GOD'S PEOPLE. | |
| SIDE BY SIDE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR FAILINGS | |
| OUR SELFISHNESS AND STUBBORNESS; | |
| OUR BLINDNESS AND UNKINDNESS. | |
| AND IN SOLIDARITY, ONE WITH ANOTHER, | |
| PRAY FOR GOD'S MERCY AND FORGIVENESS | |
| Pause... | |
| Reader | The Lord says this, |
| "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you | |
| and called you to be Mine". | |
| ALL | I confess that I have forgotten |
| the great love that my god and my creator has for me. | |
| I have lived as if I created myself | |
| forgetful of God's great goodness to me. | |
|
I |
|
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and have chosen to ignore His call. |
|
| Sung Kyrie/ Lord have mercy (perhaps as a solo – to allow people space/ time for reflection) | |
| Reader | The Lord says this, |
| "My servant will not break the crushed reed | |
| or quench the wavering flame". | |
| ALL | I CONFESS THAT I HAVE NOT SERVED |
| IN THE WAY GOD ASKS OF HIS SERVANTS. | |
| MY WORDS HAVE HURT | |
| THOSE ALREADY OVER-BURDENED; | |
| MY LACK OF KINDNESS AND PATIENCE HAS CRUSHED | |
| THOSE WHOM I SHOULD HAVE CHERISHED; | |
| I HAVE PUT PEOPLE DOWN - | |
| WHEN CALLED TO RAISE THEM UP; | |
| I HAVE IGNORED THE NEEDS | |
| OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS | |
| AND ALLOWED THEIR LIGHT | |
| TO GROW DIM THROUGH MY LACK OF LOVE. | |
| Sung Kyrie | |
| Reader | The Lord says this, |
| "I will tell you the truth and the truth will make you free". | |
| ALL | I CONFESS THAT I HAVE NOT LIVED AS A FREEBORN CHILD OF GOD. |
| I HAVE CLUNG TO THE SECURITY OF MONEY AND POSSESSIONS - | |
| AND HAVE BECOME THEIR SLAVE; | |
| I HAVE LISTENED TO THE VOICES OF THE WORLD - | |
| AND HAVE LET MYSELF BE SEDUCED BY THEIR EMPTY PROMISES; | |
| I HAVE ALLOWED MY ADDICTIONS TO HOLD ME BOUND. | |
| I HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR MYSELF, | |
| MY VALUES, MY FAITH. | |
| Sung Kyrie | |
| Reader | The Lord says this, |
| "I lay before you a choice: death or life. | |
| Choose life..." | |
| ALL | I CONFESS THAT I HAVE CHOSEN DEATH |
| IN ENVY AND RESENTMENT; | |
| IN SELF-PITY AND DISLOYALTY. | |
| I HAVE KNOWN THE GOOD IN OTHERS | |
| BUT HAVE CHOSEN TO SEE THE BAD. | |
| I HAVE SEEN OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND TO CHANGE | |
| BUT HAVE CHOSEN TO STAY THE SAME. | |
| I HAVE SEEN WAYS TO BRING LIFE TO OTHERS | |
| BUT HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO USE THEM. | |
| IN THE ABUNDANCE AND BEAUTY OF LIFE | |
| I HAVE BEEN CONTENT WITH MEANNESS AND UGLINESS. | |
| IN THE LIGHT AND WARMTH OF GOD'S LOVE | |
| I HAVE BEEN CONTENT WITH SHADOWS AND COLDNESS. | |
| Sung Kyrie | |
| ALL | O LORD, IF YOU SHOULD MARK OUR GUILT |
| WHICH ONE OF US WOULD STAND? | |
| BUT WITH OUR GOD THERE IS STEADFAST LOVE, | |
| IN OUR GOD ALL IS MERCY | |
| AND FULLNESS OF REDEMPTION. | |
| (If absolution is to be offered, this would be a good place for it to happen. Play gentle background music and offer people sheets with words and pictures to aid reflection) | |
| Closing Responses: Going from the house of God rejoicing in forgiveness | |
| Reader | We were bound by guilt and shame |
| ALL | AND GOD HAS DELIVERED US FROM OUR BONDAGE |
| Reader | When we stood accused |
| by others | |
| and by ourselves | |
| ALL | JESUS NOTICED US |
| AND LISTENED TO THE ACCUSATIONS | |
| AND THEN ASKED WHO COULD CONDEMN US – | |
| SO WE GO, | |
| NO LONGER ACCUSING OURSELVES | |
| OF SINS THAT HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN; | |
| NOR CONDEMNING OTHERS | |
| FOR THE SINS THAT GOD HAS FORGIVEN THEM | |
| Reader | We were cast down and weighed down by our sin |
| afraid to begin again in case we made the same mistakes | |
| ALL | AND JESUS REACHED OUT |
| AND RAISED US TO OUR FEET – | |
| SO WE GO, | |
| SURE OF HIS CONFIDENCE IN US | |
| TO LIVE AS HE WOULD HAVE US LIVE | |
| PEOPLE WHO ARE FREE TO CHOOSE | |
| WHO SEEK TO CHOOSE THAT WHICH IS GOOD | |
| Reader | We have seen the love and power of God |
| who triumphs over the powers of sin and death | |
| ALL | AND SO WE LEAVE BEHIND THE THINGS OF THE PAST |
| AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE. | |
| WE HAVE NOT YET WON | |
| WE ARE STILL RUNNING THE RACE – | |
| BUT WE KNOW THE PRIZE THAT AWAITS US | |
| AND LIVE IN JOYFUL HOPE | |
| OF GAINING THE PRIZE TO WHICH GOD CALLS US UPWARDS | |
| TO RECEIVE IN CHRIST JESUS. | |
| AMEN. | |
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© 2003 Wellspring |
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