Reading of
the Law of God
Blessed are the poor
in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5.3
Confession
of Sin
Our Father, we confess to You that we are not poor in spirit. Sadly, we are
too like those around us. We think so
well of ourselves. We are proud. We do not recognize how poor and weak and needy we really are. We do not believe this part of the Gospel very
well. We acknowledge our sin. We ask
that You would forgive us. We ask that
You would change us. We ask this only
because of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.
Declaration
of Pardon
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to
anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he
keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor
repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the
earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the
east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103.8-12