Reading of the Law of God
You shall not bear
false witness against your neighbor. Exodus 20.16
Confession of Sin
Our Father, we
confess to You that we have broken Your Law. We have ‘shaded the truth’ to
avoid embarrassment. We have gossiped. We have spoken rashly against others. We
have failed to defend our neighbors’ good names when others have slandered
them. In these and other ways we have disobeyed this commandment. We come again
to ask forgiveness of our hateful sins. We do this through Jesus, the only one
who can provide forgiveness. Amen.
Declaration of Pardon
Seek the LORD while
he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his
way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he
may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah
55.6-7
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