For Sunday

Reading of the Law of God

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5.14-16

Confession of Sin

Our Father, we don’t like the idea of persecution. Our Father, forgive us. We find it so easy to hide the light of the Gospel that You have entrusted to us. We give in to our fears before the world and to the pressure to conform and not make waves. We recognize this as an offense against You, the God who has loved us so. We ask that You might cover this sin by the blood of Jesus and that, by Your Holy Spirit, You might make us bold to shine with the Gospel before a needy world. Amen

Declaration of Pardon

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:12-13 

God, the Father of mercies, has reconciled the world to himself through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, not counting our trespasses against us, but sending his Holy Spirit to shed abroad his love among us. By the ministry of reconciliation entrusted by Christ to his Church, receive his pardon and peace to stand before him in his strength alone, this day and evermore.

The Book of Common Prayer