Photo by Barb Hedges-Goettl, Philadelphia Pride Parade, June 10, 2018, Collenbrook United Church, Drexel Hill, PA float.
Confessions of sin based on the Belhar Confession (See this site for original post and more liturgical resources based on this Belhar Confession)
Confession of Sin #1
Call to Confession: God calls the church to follow him, standing by those who suffer and are in need, so that justice may roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Let us confess the ways in which we do not follow God’s call.
Prayer:
One: O God, you bring justice to the oppressed and give bread to the hungry.
All: Forgive us when we do not follow you.
One: You free the prisoner and restore sight to the blind.
All: Forgive us when we do not follow you.
One: You support the downtrodden and protect the stranger.
All: Forgive us when we do not follow you.
One: You block evildoers and help orphans and widows.
All: Forgive us when we do not follow you.
One: You stand against injustice. You stand with the wronged.
All: Forgive us when we do not follow you.
One: You condemn those who seek their own interests, controlling and harming others.
All: Forgive us when we do not follow you.
One: You bring about justice and true peace among people.
All: God, forgive us when we do not follow you.
Grant us your grace. Embolden us that, as your people, we may stand where you stand.
Assurance of Forgiveness
One: God’s life-giving Word and Spirit enable us to live in a new obedience, opening new possibilities of life for society and the world. Thanks be to God for the Good News:
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Prayer of Confession #2
Invitation: The gift and obligation of unity is given and commanded by God for the Christian church, yet the one worldwide community of believers is not visibly and consistently united. Let us confess
our need for God’s grace.
Prayer of Confession: God, forgive us. Our communion is not always visible to the world. We allow threats to unity to enter the church, making it hard to see that we are your community. At times we act as though we do not need each other. We do not always love one another. Sometimes we do not know and bear one another’s burdens. At times we fail build each other up. We do not always give ourselves willingly and joyfully to one another. Forgive and strengthen us so that we may live in the unity that you grant us.
Assurance of Forgiveness
One: By Christ’s work, we are reconciled and united with God and with one another. Thanks be to God for the Good News: All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Confession #3
Call to Confession:
One: God has given the church the message of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ, but we fall short of God’s call to be salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Prayer of Confession:
All: God, our fears and prejudices run deep. Sometimes we can only see our own point of view. We stick with those who are like us, rarely venturing outside our comfort zones. We do not hear those crying for justice and true peace. We blame those who are suffering and in need instead of standing by them. We deny the power of your gospel to unite us with those who are different from us. Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear. Use us to open new possibilities of life for all of your people.
Assurance of Forgiveness
One: We are reconciled with God and with one another through Christ’s work. Thanks be to God for the Good News: All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Pastor Barb Hedges-Goettl’s experience of having a trans daughter gives the words of the Belhar Confession new meaning and resonance, particularly in Pride Month. The full Belhar Confession can be found at https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/theologyandworship/pdfs/belhar.pdf
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