Eternal God, whose covenant with us is never broken,

                                we confess that we fail to fulfill your will.

                                Though You have bound Yourself to us,

                                we refuse to bind ourselves to You.

                                In Jesus Christ You serve us freely,

                                but we misuse Your love and withhold ourselves from others.

                                We do not love You fully

                                or love one another as You command.

                                In Your mercy forgive and cleanse us.

                                Lead us once again to Your faithful love

                                and unite us to Christ,

                                the bread of life

                                and the vine from which we grow in grace.

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

If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father,  Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. In Christ, we are forgiven! (I John 2:1-2)