For Sunday

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

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53.4-5

May the Father forgive us by the death of his Son and strengthen us to live in the power of the Spirit all our days.

The Book of Common Prayer