Reading of the Law of God
Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5.7
Confession of Sin
Our Father, we are
not by nature a merciful people. When others sin, we are all too quick to
judge. When they sin against us, all too often, our thoughts turn to ourselves
and how we have been hurt, and not to the sinner in need of mercy. It is so
hard for us to overlook the faults of others and reach out to them. But as
unmerciful as we are so often toward others, we still expect You to be merciful
to us. Forgive us, Father, for Jesus’ sake and make us like You, a God who is
full of mercy. Amen.
Declaration of Pardon
Jesus said to her,
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet
shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do
you believe this?”
The Lord enrich you
with his grace, and nourish you with his blessing; the Lord defend you in
trouble and keep you from all evil; the Lord accept your prayers, and absolve
you from your offences, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
The Book of Common Prayer