Reading
of the Law of God
Blessed
are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5.7
Confession
of Sin
Our
Father, we are not by nature a merciful people. When others sin, we are all too
quick to judge. When they sin against us, all too often, our thoughts turn to ourselves
and how we have been hurt, and not to the sinner in need of mercy. It is so
hard for us to overlook the faults of others and reach out to them. But as
unmerciful as we are so often toward others, we still expect You to be merciful
to us. Forgive us, Father, for Jesus’ sake and make us like You, a God who is
full of mercy. Amen.
Declaration
of Pardon
For
while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For
one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person
one would dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5.6-8