LENT 5A        The Candle of Sorrow

We’ve experienced temptation, searching, confession, and joy through these weeks of Lent.
Today we recognize sorrow.

We feel sorrow for those who are sick or are suffering right now.
We feel sorrow that the world isn’t what God wants it to be.

We feel sorrow for people we have loved who are no longer with us,
and for people who we wish we could hug.

We feel sorrow for Christ’s death on a cross.
And we are sorry for our sins.

So as we extinguish this fifth candle, let’s pray our prayer of confession together.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Almighty God have mercy on us and forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.