God of salvation, in Christ You have done great things—

                                                our hearts are filled with joy.

                                                By Your power You lifted us out of the wasteland of sin.

                                                Salvation is Your gift to us.

                                                But we confess that often we try to replace Your gift

                                                with our own efforts.

                                                We try to complete what is already perfect;

                                                we try to add to what is already full;

                                                we try to earn what we already have.

                                                Forgive us for our foolishness.

                                                Help us to focus on Your grace.

                                                Help us to live grateful lives in return.

                                                For Jesus’ sake alone.

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

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.  (Isaiah 40:1-2)