SCAPEGOAT SUNDAY

(PART 2 OF A SERIES)

A TIME TO CONFESS SINS OF SELF AND OTHERS

You stepped outside the daily routines of life and joined in with a community to focus on that which is beyond the immediate context of living.

We live in an era of guilt and paralysis. Ironically our faith tradition and heritage show us a way beyond that and liberates us to rewrite our story for the future. Both the Jewish and Christian faith establish liturgies that invite us to confess our sins and then to experience the transforming power of grace for the future. The Jewish faith  In Leviticus 16:21-22 the yearly ritual of the Scapegoat is described by which the community identifies their sins, lays them on the goat and drives them out into the wilderness. Now they are free to start a new year. Christians have a weekly ritual of confession and forgiveness for the same purpose.

Consider a confession of sins that held the promise of grace for the whole congregation. Picture a people who could learn from their past but picture a renewed future.  Here is just a sample:

A sample of a confession of sins that we might offer during our worship.

“God, there are some in this church and society who participate in racist thoughts and behavior.” (a moment of silence.) “God forgive them.”

“Lord, there are some of us and many in our society, whose prosperity was built on discrimination and unjust structures in our society. (A moment of silence.) “Heal them of their blindness and liberate them by your grace.”

“Holy one, many of us and our neighbors allow our neighbors to experience injustice and discrimination without a protest from us.” (A moment of silence.) Hear us as we confess the sins of our world, and grant us the courage and boldness to advocate for your will being done on earth as it is in heaven.”

AN ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

We ask for your forgiveness, Lord, not based on our goodness or the purity of our faith. We dare to seek your forgiveness because we saw in the flesh how Jesus loved the outcast, healed the sick, and challenged us to forgive each other seventy times seven. Because we trust in you, we know we are forgiven and in thanksgiving, we seek to offer forgiveness to all we meet.

Some other Sample Confession

“God, we gather in your gracious presence. Probe our souls and lift up any thoughts where any of us have felt superior to others because of race, economic status, educational levels, gender, etc. (pause for 15 seconds for each to reflect) God examine this church and identify any misuse of power, attitude, or status in the past or the present that has distorted the diversity that reflects your love for us. (Pause 15 seconds). Lord, help us to release personal and community judgments and liberate in each of us the capacity to reflect the sacrificial love you offer to flow out from this community into your hurting world. Trusting Christ as our savior, enable us to be the loving community that offers hope and healing as a reflection of your image.”

SAMPLE #3

God, we want to reflect your beautiful diverse universe with each part bearing a gift that reflects your loving image. We confess that we  bear the racial sins of our ancestors and continue to accept the systemic divisions in both church and society. Whether from fear, greed, or ignorance, we fail to reflect your healing love that seeks to reconcile the world to yourself. Liberate us from our small vision of your will being done and set us free to strive for your kingdom coming on earth.

SAMPLE #4

Lord, as white members, we confess to benefiting from advantages built into our society. Too often we are quiet when our neighbors suffer. As black members, we struggle with anger and despair when we either experience or witness discrimination. We are tempted to stay quiet because we want to fit in. Regardless of our racial origin, we find it difficult to sacrificially love our neighbor like Jesus loved us. We find it too easy to live in denial or quiet guilt. Forgive us Lord and put a right spirit in us.

God, we live in a society divided by race, economics, gender, and ego. You call us to be ambassadors of reconciliation, but we often fail to confront our divisions. We neglect our responsibilities as ambassadors of Christ to reconcile the world to God. By your Grace, help us learn from our failures and energize your healing spirit so that we might bear good news to a hurting world.

SAMPLE #5

We live in an era of guilt and paralysis. Ironically our faith tradition and heritage show us a way beyond that and liberates us to rewrite our story for the future. Both the Jewish and Christian faith establish liturgies that invite us to confess our sins and then to experience the transforming power of grace for the future. The Jewish faith  In Leviticus 16:21-22 the yearly ritual of the Scapegoat is described by which the community identifies their sins, lays them on the goat and drives them out into the wilderness. Now they are free to start a new year. Christians have a weekly ritual of confession and forgiveness for the same purpose.

Consider a confession of sins that held the promise of grace for the whole congregation. Picture a people who could learn from their past but picture a renewed future.  Here is just a sample:

EVEN AS YOU READ THESE CONFESSIONS, HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL? CAN YOU PICTURE YOUR PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST TAKING ON THE SINS OF THE WORLD AND MAKING SUCH A CONFESSION?

TO BE CONTINUED