Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon

 God in Heaven,

We come to you this morning as your body, the body of Christ, 


O God of shalom,
we have built up walls to protect ourselves from our enemies,
but those walls also shut us off from receiving your love.
Break down those walls.
Help us to see that the way to your heart
is through the reconciliation of our own hearts with our enemies.
Bless them and us, that we may come to grow in love
for each other and for you, through Jesus Christ.

O God in heaven,
we have built up walls to protect ourselves from our enemies, and even sometimes from our friends and loved ones,
but those walls also shut us off from receiving your love.
Break down those walls.
Help us to see that the way to your heart
is through the reconciliation of our own hearts with others.
Bless them and us, that we may come to grow in love
for each other and for you, through Jesus Christ.

Now hear our individual prayers of confession. 

(pause)

Thank you for hearing our prayers and beginning the work of reconciliation.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.  

Hear this assurance of pardon.  

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