Reading of the Law of God
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be
long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Exodus 20.12
Confession of Sin
Our Father, we have not kept this commandment. All too often
we have not properly honored those whom You have placed over us. All too often
we have not submitted ourselves to their instruction. All too often we have not
received their correction graciously nor borne with their weaknesses patiently. We acknowledge that by
sinning against them we have actually rebelled against You. We know from the
Gospel that these sins have earned us Your justice. But we also know from the
Gospel that we who have entrusted ourselves to Jesus have received the grace of
Your forgiveness. Thank You that Jesus has paid for these sins, too. Amen.
Declaration of Pardon
Happy is he whose transgression is taken away, whose sin is
covered. Happy is a person to whom Yahweh does not impute iniquity and in whose
spirit there is not deceit. I made known my sin to you, and my iniquity I did
not cover. I said, “I will confess concerning my transgressions to Yahweh,” and
you took away the guilt of my sin. Psalms 32.1-2,5