Easter 5b

L       Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. (1 John 4:7-8, 22) Let us confess the ways we fail to live the command to love. 

Silence is kept for confession and reflection 

L       God of Love

C       I will praise you in the great assembly and will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you, for all who seek the Lord will praise him and their hearts rejoice with everlasting joy. (Psalm 22:25-26) 

L       In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear (for) love has been perfected among us in this: We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:10, 17-19)

Easter 4b

L       How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. (1 John 3:17-18) Let us confess the ways we fail to love in truth and action.

Silence is kept for confession and reflection

L       Shepherd me, O God

C       …restore my soul, O Lord and guide me along right pathways for your name's sake. (Psalm 23:3) 

L       We know love by this that he laid down his life for us...  And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts… (1 John 3:16,19-20)

Easter 3b

L             "You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; how long will you love illusions and seek after lies? Tremble, then, and do not sin; speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.” (Psalm 4:2, 4) Let us confess the ways we dishonor God’s glory.

Silence is kept for confession and reflection

L             O Lord

C             Let the light of your face shine upon me, (then) in peace I will lie down and sleep for you alone make me rest secure. (Psalm 4:6, 8)

L             See what love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. …when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)

Easter 2b

L            If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:6-7)

Silence kept for confession and reflection

C             Faithful and Just God

L            I confess that I have walked in darkness and have not been true to what you made me to be, a child of the light.

L            “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness... for Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 1:8-10, 2:2)