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Woship Resources 2009-2010 — Year C: Live Generously, Love Courageously
Return to Year C: 2009-2010
Resource Index
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Confess to the Lord
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Scriptures: Joshua 5:9–12; Psalm 32; II
Corinthians 5:16–21; Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32; Mosiah 11:196–97; Doctrine and
Covenants 163:10b
Use the color red in the worship setting to tie into the Lenten activity and
to signify the blood of Christ shed for our sins. In a prominent place, display
crosses made of wood, glass, or Plexiglas (to be used in a later activity). Make
sure everyone can see and reach them. Have available a Christ costume, invisible
ink and blotters, dry-erase markers, and erasers.
Prelude: “Lay Your hands” NS 27
OR Instrumental music Flute music could be shared at this time.
Welcome
Called to Confess
“I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I
said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the
iniquity of my sin.” —Psalm 32:5 IV
*Hymn: “Heal Me, Hands of Jesus” SP 33
OR “The Love of God” HS 107
*Invocation
*Response
Prayer for Peace
Disciples’ Generous Response
Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you to
integrate the message of “share equally” between Local and World Ministries
Mission Tithes. Generosity stories are provided to keep the church in touch
with how contributions to Mission Tithes spread the peace of Jesus Christ.
Please use the stories, testimonies, and up-to-date contribution information
as part of your offertory ministry. Visit
www.CofChrist.org/generositystories to print a copy, or contact your
pastor, congregational financial officer, or worship coordinator for a copy.
“Praise God” Speech Choir
I confess to you, Lord. I confess my iniquity.
I confess my times of transgression to my Lord, who forgives
me.
As we confess our shortcomings, we thank you for your mercy
and forgiveness.
God is merciful and gracious unto me.
Thanks be to God!
—Vickey Eagleton, 2008
Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes
Scripture Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 163:10b
Focus Moment
Have someone dressed as Jesus call the children forward and talk with
them about sins and God’s forgiveness. Explain that when you are forgiven,
your sins are wiped away. Then have the children blot the robe of Jesus with
invisible ink. Jesus remains until the ink disappears, allowing the children
to see their sins wiped away.
Sermon
Based on Psalm 32
Scripture for Confessional Reflection: Mosiah 11:196–97
The Transformation of Repentance
Invite the congregation to go to the Plexiglas, glass, or wooden crosses
at the side or front of the sanctuary. Have them write—with dry-erase
markers—a confession, sin, their name, or something they want to give to the
Lord.
Prayers for Forgiveness
Designate people to pray before the service or invite the congregation to
participate.
Ministry of Music
While music is played or sung, have the person representing Christ come
and wipe everything off the crosses. Mention how our sins are washed away
when we repent. Follow with a hymn of celebration.
*Hymn: “My Jesus, I Love You” HS 204
OR “I Love You, Lord” NS 18
OR “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” NS 34
*Closing Prayer
*Response
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Joshua 5:9–12; Psalm 32; II
Corinthians 5:16–21; Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32
Exploring the Scriptures
Sin makes us miserable. Sin destroys. To acknowledge our sin to God and then
to be forgiven brings relief from our misery. Psalm 32 celebrates the joy of
forgiveness. This psalm has historically been used in a grouping of seven
penitential psalms (Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143). These texts confess
sinfulness and acknowledge shortcomings. It is reported that Augustine had the
words of Psalm 32 written above his bed so these words would be the first thing
he saw in the morning.
In ancient Israel it was very important to acknowledge and confess sin, as
well as make restitution to injured parties. Without these steps, repentance was
not possible. Transgression, sin, iniquity, deceit, and guilt are words used in
this psalm to describe the heaviness of spirit associated with turning away from
God. It is interesting to note the physical effects of the sin: “my body wasted
away,” “your hand was heavy upon me,” “my strength was dried up” (vv. 3–4). It
may be that the psalmist was aware of the need for sinners to tell their story
and claim responsibility for wrongdoing—a therapeutic practice that continues
today.
We can view this psalm as a prayer of thanksgiving. Structurally, the prayer
includes testifying of a sinful condition that no longer exists, from which the
psalmist has been delivered. Then, the prayer changes to address us (the
audience) with an invitation to follow the practice of repentance, to bring
about joy that is only experienced when God’s forgiveness is received. It is as
though the psalmist is pleading with us not to make the same mistakes and learn
from the experience: “Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle” (v. 9).
Sin is devastating, but this psalm celebrates the reality that confessed sin
is a means of reconnecting with God. When we confess and turn toward God, the
psalmist uses words like “happy,” “glad cries,” “steadfast love,” “be glad,” and
“rejoice” to express the joy.
Often within Community of Christ worship, a time of confession is omitted
from our services. While we may be uncomfortable participating in public
confession, corporate worship can offer a time of self-reflection. The following
quote by Peter Judd encourages us to include this integral element in our
worship:
I remain convinced that some opportunity for worshipers to acknowledge
their sinfulness and dependence on God, and to be assured of God’s
forgiveness, is vital to authentic worship. Confession is that humble
expression of vulnerability that allows us to experience our deep
connectedness with God and others. Without confession, life in community
becomes grounded in self and ego and fosters an environment where
competition and barriers persist.
—Peter Judd, “Up Front,” Herald, March 2003, 5
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are formed by our individual and corporate
worship. When we “confess to the Lord,” we come to understand that we are loved,
forgiven, renewed, and then sent forth to be vibrant witnesses of the gospel.
Central Ideas
1. Confession is a necessary recognition of our sinfulness. Forgiveness
is not possible without confession.
2. We turn back toward God through confession. God’s forgiveness brings
joy.
3. Worshiping God, individually and corporately, includes confessing our
sinfulness and receiving God’s forgiveness.
Questions for the Speaker
1. When have you been miserable because of unconfessed sin? What
testimony of confession and God’s forgiveness can you share?
2. How do you know God forgives you? How does it feel?
3. How can moments of confession be included in your congregation’s
worship services?
4. What daily disciplines do you practice that help you turn back toward
God?
5. The psalmist makes the point that confessing and being forgiven brings
joy. How can you overcome the tendency to make this joy “private”? How do
you share this joy with others?
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