Celebrant: Christ came to set the captives free. Let us now confess our sins in his name, and experience the freedom God offers.
All: Most holy and merciful Father, we acknowledge and confess before you our sinful nature – prone to evil and slow to do good – and all our shortcomings and offenses against you. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love.
Celebrant: Hear us now as we individually confess our sins to you.
[Silence for self-examination and personal confession.]
Celebrant: God of grace and compassion, and Father of all mercies,
All: Have mercy on us, who are ashamed and sorry for all things in which we have displeased you. Teach us to hate our errors. Cleanse us from our secret faults, and forgive our sins for the sake of your dear Son. In your mercy send your purifying grace into our hearts, that we may henceforth live in your light and walk in your ways, according to the commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
