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If No Sound
Confession, Pardon, Praise!©
November 15, 2008
1 Samuel 1:4-20
Psalm 113 (UMH
834)
Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25
Mark 13:1-8
Amy DeWitte
Each month as we prepare to celebrate Holy
communion, we begin by confessing our sins before God:
"Merciful
God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We
have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have
broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not
loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive
us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen."
We receive God’s pardon:
“Hear the Good News, Christ died for us while
we were yet sinners. That proves God’s love toward us. In the name of
Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.”
And we respond in praise:
“Glory to God! Amen.”
These are the words we pray to confess our sins
every month as the beginning of our celebration of communion. They are familiar
words, words that you may even know by heart because you have confessed them so
many times and that’s a powerful thing become apart of you. But what are we
doing when we confess? And what does it mean that we are forgiven? And what
should our response to that be? (We are in a covenantal relationship with God,
after all.)
Notice that in our liturgy pardon follows
confession, and praising God comes right after God’s pardon of us. Confession.
Pardon. Praise. Oh, that this would be the pattern of our lives!
This
week’s sermon talks about ways we understand how we are forgiven and reconciled
people because of Jesus’ death. It’s always good to pause and remember what an
incredible gift that is! How will we respond anew?
Copyright © 2009 Amy DeWitte. All Rights Reserved. No portion of
this writing may be reproduced in any form without specific, written
permission of the author.
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