Souper Bowl - Prayers of the People & Confession

People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.

Intercessor: We have strayed from our own responsibilities to families and communities, thinking that we would thus be free.

P: We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.

I: We have been too sentimental and at the same time have followed too much the logic of our minds; we have built great universities to search our truth, then hidden behind their ivied walls to protect ourselves, from strife and danger.

P: We have offended against thy holy laws.

I: We have allowed our communities and nations to respect selfishness and injustice and have washed our hands of the “due process of law.”

P: We have left undone those things which we ought to have done.

I: We have been irresponsible in our economic life and allowed unrighteousness to hold sway in politics and the struggle for power,

P: And we have done those things which we ought not to have done.

I: We have lived at the expense of our poorer brothers and sisters at home and abroad; we have used the terrible destructiveness of science against our enemies; we have judged others by the languages people speak, the color of their skin, their sex or gender, and their religion.

P: And there is no health in us.

I: There is conflict in the depths of our souls which has driven us into sickness of mind and body,

P: But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us,

I: We have considered ourselves untainted by the evils of our modern world.

P: Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults.

I: Be they personal, social, cultural or religious sins,

P: Restore thou those who are penitent.

I: Who would change both themselves and their society,

P: According to thy promises declared unto humankind in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I: Through whom together we are raised up into thy kingdom on earth and in heaven.

P: And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous & sober life,

I: Ordered by thy law and freed by thy grace,

P: To the glory of thy holy name. Amen.

I: We offer in prayer today… (Rev. Kurt will add names & end with a prayer)

[Adapted from The Wideness of God's Mercy]