O God, You have shown us the way of life through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We confess with shame our slowness to learn of Him, our failure to follow Him, and our reluctance to bear the cross. Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us.

We confess the poverty of our worship,

                Our neglect of fellowship and of the means of grace,

                Our hesitating witness for Christ,

                Our evasion of responsibilities in our service,

                Our imperfect stewardship of Your gifts.

                Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us.                                              

The words of the gospel for those who repent and believe:

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, (Titus 3:5-6)