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Advent Prayer of Confession (1) using “Jesus Christ, Lord of all”
This prayer of confession uses the song “Jesus Christ, Lord of all” by John L. Bell (found on page 34 in Love from Below—the Iona Community, 1989),
the text of which appears in italics. The phrase “come to us now” replaces “stay with us now.” The lines in bold italics are sung by all, the other lines by a cantor or choir.
We need you so desperately, O God:
we need to accept you for who you truly are,
not what we expect.
Too often,
we choose flickering candles and bulbs over your true light:
we choose to hide who we truly are;
both the sins that shame us,
and the potential that frightens us.
Hear us as we confess.
Jesus Christ, Lord of all, come to us now.
Find your way among us: Jesus Christ, Lord of all, come to us now.
Comfort and disturb us: Jesus Christ, Lord of all, come to us now.
Too often,
we choose quick fixes over your true justice:
we choose to be right rather than righteous,
in our countries, our communities, and our covenants.
Hear us as we confess.
Jesus Christ, Lord of all, come to us now.
Listen to the anxious: Jesus Christ, Lord of all, come to us now.
Contradict the callous: Jesus Christ, Lord of all, come to us now.
Too often,
we choose cheap thrills over your true joy:
we choose to fill our lives with what we can own or ingest,
we choose safety over surprise.
Hear us as we confess.
Jesus Christ, Lord of all, come to us now.
Do not ever leave us: Jesus Christ, Lord of all, come to us now.
Even when we doubt you: Jesus Christ, Lord of all, come to us now.
Too often,
we choose our schemes over your plan:
we reject leaps of faith in favor of small, secure steps,
we reject selfless giving in favor of our own fiscal prudence.
Hear us as we confess.
Jesus Christ, Lord of all, come to us now,
Maker of tomorrow: Jesus Christ, Lord of all, come to us now.
Keep us through the darkness: Jesus Christ, Lord of all, come to us now.
Silent prayer.
We need you so desperately, O God.
We need your light, your justice, your joy, your plan.
Hear us, forgive us, and help us accept you
for who you truly are,
not what we expect.