Liturgy of Repentance

GENERAL CONFESSION PART II

PETITION FOR FORGIVENESS

Instructions for Receiving the Signs:
Members of this assembly, who are downstairs in the auditorium and desire to participate in the call to repentance for the sin of racism, please move to a station at the direction of an usher where, as a sign of penance, you will receive a strip of sackcloth to pin on your garment and you will receive ashes.

Because movement is difficult in the balcony area, bowls of ashes and strips of sackcloth will be sent down the rows. The sister or brother behind you will give to you the signs of penance. Ushers will give the signs to the back rows.

Everyone is invited to participate. We ask that you receive the signs of penance without conversation. Afterward, you may wish to seek out others on the floor to make quiet personal gestures of peace and reconciliation.

CONGREGATION SONG Seated "Dust and Ashes"

COMMON PENANCE Stand as able

Bishop Charlene Kammerer, a member of the Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation will officiate at the Common Penance.

 Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Let us confess together our sins:

Christ, our mediator,
we acknowledge the sin of racism
within our body
against those who left and
against those who stayed.

We lament what we have done and
what we have left undone.
We are heartily sorry and
we humbly repent.

We petition for God’s forgiveness,
and solemnly ask the forgiveness
from those we have wronged.

We ask that, by your grace, the symbols
of judgment we have embraced in this service
may be turned into signs of hope,
as we strive to become a holy and righteous people.

ABSOLUTION Remain standing as able

O God, the author of all mercy,
who has reconciled the world through
the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
and who has sent the Holy Spirit among us
to affect the forgiveness of sins,
grant us pardon and peace
and the courage to right both our personal sins
and the wrongs of our church.

 May Almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us all our sins, strengthen us in all goodness,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit
keep us in eternal life. Amen

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