Reading of the Law of God
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we
should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does
not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3.1
Confession of Sin
Our Father, You have been so kind and good in making us Your
children. You have conferred upon us a great blessing in granting us this
assurance of Your awesome love. And yet, how often we doubt You in this. How often
we question the reality of Your love. How often we act as if we are orphans left
to find our own way, instead of acting as the cherished children that we really
are. We admit that this is a great sin against Your loving, fatherly heart. We
have no excuse. We can only ask for forgiveness of our sin. We thank You that
because You are a loving Father, You graciously promise to forgive. We thank
You for the Gospel of Jesus that makes such forgiveness possible. Amen.
Declaration of Pardon
May the Father of all mercies cleanse us from our sins, and
restore us in his image to the praise and glory of his name, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Book of Common Prayer
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every
one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah
53.6