Jesus says, 'Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven is close at hand.'
So let us turn away from sin and turn to the Lord,
confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
cf Matthew 4.17
Brothers and sisters,
as we prepare to celebrate,
let us call to mind our sins.
The gospel calls us to turn away from
sin
and be faithful to Christ.
As we offer ourselves to him in penitence and
faith,
we renew our confidence and trust in his mercy.
'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God
Almighty.'
We long for the fire of God's cleansing
to touch our unclean lips,
for our guilt to be removed and our sin wiped out.
So we meet Father, Son and Holy Spirit
with repentance in our hearts.
cf Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4
St Paul says
'Be imitators of God;
love as Christ loved;
do not grieve the Holy Spirit;
put away all anger and bitterness,
all slander and malice.'
So let us confess our sins to God
who forgives us in Christ.
cf Ephesians 4.30 - 5.1
Human sin disfigures the whole
creation,
which groans with eager longing for God's redemption.
We confess our sin in penitence and faith.
cf Romans 8.22,23
When the Lord comes,
he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness,
and will disclose the purposes of the heart.
Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins.
Christ the light of the world has come to
dispel
the darkness of our hearts.
In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our
sins.
Hear the words of the angel to
Joseph:
' You shall call his name Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.'
Therefore let us seek the forgiveness of God
through Jesus the Saviour of the world.
cf Matthew 1.21
As we kneel with the shepherds before the
newborn
Christ child,
we open our hearts in penitence and faith.
The grace of God has dawned upon the
world
through our Saviour Jesus
Christ,
who sacrificed himself for us to purify a people as his
own.
Let us confess our sins.
cf Titus 2.11-14
[Come to me, all who labour and are heavy
laden,
and I will give you rest.]
God shows his love for us
in that, while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Let us then show our love for him
by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
cf Romans 5.8
Christ our passover lamb has been
sacrificed for us.
Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and
evil
and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.
cf 1 Corinthians 5.7,8
Jesus is our high priest, tempted like us,
yet without sin.
He lives for ever in heaven to intercede for us.
Through him we approach the throne of grace
with confidence,
and confess our sins.
cf Hebrews 4.15,16
Seeing we have a great high priest
who has passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God,
let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of
faith,
and make our confession to our heavenly Father.
Hebrews 4.14; 10.22
The Spirit of truth will convict the world
of guilt
about sin, righteousness and
judgement.
We have grieved the Holy Spirit.
In sorrow we confess our sins.
cf John 16.8
What God has prepared for those who love
him,
he has revealed to us through the Spirit;
for the Spirit searches everything.
Therefore, let us in penitence open our hearts to the
Lord,
who has prepared good things for those who love him.
cf 1 Corinthians 2.9
The Spirit of the Lord fills the
world
and knows our every word and deed.
Let us then open ourselves to the Lord
and confess our sins in penitence and faith.
The word of God is living and active.
It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
All is open and laid bare before the eyes of him
to whom we give account.
We confess our sins in penitence and faith.
cf Hebrews 4.12
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken
spirit;
a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.
Our sins accuse us.
We confess them to God.
cf Psalm 51.17
The sacrifice of God is a broken
spirit;
a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.
Let us come to the Lord, who is full of compassion,
and acknowledge our transgressions in penitence and faith.
Psalm 51.17
Compassion and forgiveness belong to the
Lord our God,
though we have rebelled against him.
Let us then renounce our wilfulness and ask his mercy
by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
cf Daniel 9.9
The sun of righteousness has dawned
with healing in his wings.
Let us come to the light of Christ,
confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
cf Malachi 4.2
Jesus said, 'Before you offer your gift, go
and be reconciled.'
As sisters and brothers in God's family,
we come together to ask our Father for forgiveness.
Matthew 5.24
We come to God as one from whom no secrets
are hidden,
to ask for his forgiveness and peace.
The grace of God has dawned upon the
world with healing for all.
Let us come to him, in sorrow for our sins,
seeking healing and salvation.
cf Titus 2.11
Jesus saw the city and wept over it,
because it did not recognize the time of God's coming.
We confess our part in the self-centredness,
blindness and sin
of the life of our city/community.
cf Luke 19.41
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
as we gather at the Lord's table
we must recall the promises and warnings
given to us in the
Scriptures.
Let us therefore examine ourselves and repent of our sins.
Christ calls us to share the heavenly
banquet of his love
with all the saints in earth and heaven.
Knowing our unworthiness and sin,
let us ask from him both mercy and forgiveness.
Since we are surrounded by a great cloud of
witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so
closely,
looking to Jesus in penitence and faith.
cf Hebrews 12.1
The saints were faithful unto death
and now dwell in the heavenly kingdom for ever.
As we celebrate their joy,
let us bring to the Lord our sins and weaknesses,
and ask for his mercy.
Father eternal, giver of light and
grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love
and marred your image in us.
We are sorry and ashamed,
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and lead us out from darkness
to walk as children of light.
Amen.
Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have wandered and strayed from your ways
like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires
of our own hearts.
We have offended against your holy laws.
We have left undone those things
that we ought to have done;
and we have done those things
that we ought not to have
done;
and there is no health in us.
But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us sinners.
Spare those who confess their faults.
Restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared to mankind
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a disciplined, righteous and godly life,
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
Almighty God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
maker of all things, judge of all people,
we acknowledge and lament our many sins
and the wickedness we have committed time after time,
by thought, word and deed against your divine majesty.
We have provoked your righteous anger
and your indignation against us.
We earnestly repent,
and are deeply sorry for these our wrongdoings;
the memory of them weighs us down,
the burden of them is too great for us to bear.
Have mercy upon us,
have mercy upon us, most merciful Father.
For your Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that from this time forward
we may always serve and please you in newness of life,
to the honour and glory of your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Almighty God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
maker of all things, judge of all people,
we acknowledge and confess
the grievous sins and
wickedness
which we have so often committed
by thought, word and deed
against your divine majesty,
provoking most justly your anger
and indignation against us.
We earnestly repent,
and are deeply sorry for these our wrongdoings;
the memory of them weighs us down,
the burden of them is too great for us to bear.
Have mercy upon us,
have mercy upon us, most merciful Father,
for your Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that from this time onwards
we may always serve and please you
in newness of life,
to the honour and glory of your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy
forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly,
love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you
and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name.
Amen.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you,
through our own fault,
in thought, and word, and deed,
and in what we have left undone.
We are heartily sorry,
and repent of all our sins.
For your Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name.
Amen.
God of mercy,
we acknowledge that we are all sinners.
We turn from the wrong that we have thought and said
and done,
and are mindful of all that we have failed to do.
For the sake of Jesus, who died for us,
forgive us for all that is past,
and help us to live each day
in the light of Christ our Lord.
Amen
O King enthroned on high,
filling the earth with your glory:
holy is your name,
Lord God almighty.
In our sinfulness we cry to you
to take our guilt away,
and to cleanse our lips to speak your word,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
cf Isaiah 6
We confess our sin, and the sins of our
society,
in the misuse of God's creation.
God our Father, we are sorry
for the times when we have used your gifts carelessly,
and acted ungratefully.
Hear our prayer, and in your mercy:
forgive us and help us.
We enjoy the fruits of the harvest,
but sometimes forget that you have given them to us.
Father, in your mercy:
forgive us and help us.
We belong to a people who are full and
satisfied,
but ignore the cry of the hungry.
Father, in your mercy:
forgive us and help us.
We are thoughtless,
and do not care enough for the world you have made.
Father, in your mercy:
forgive us and help us.
We store up goods for ourselves
alone,
as if there were no God and no heaven.
Father, in your mercy:
forgive us and help us.
Come, let us return to the Lord and
say:
Lord our God,
in our sin we have avoided your call.
Our love for you is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes away early.
Have mercy on us;
deliver us from judgement;
bind up our wounds and revive us;
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
cf Hosea 6
Christ the light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts. In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins.
Silence is kept
Lord of grace and truth,
we confess our unworthiness
to stand in your presence as your children.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
The Virgin Mary accepted your call
to be the mother of Jesus.
Forgive our disobedience to your will.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
Your Son our Saviour
was born in poverty in a manger.
Forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
The shepherds left their flocks
to go to Bethlehem.
Forgive our self-interest and lack of vision.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
The wise men followed the star
to find Jesus the King.
Forgive our reluctance to seek you.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess we have failed you as did your first
disciples.
We ask for your mercy and your help.
Our selfishness betrays you:
Lord, forgive us.
Christ have mercy.
We fail to share the pain of your
suffering:
Lord, forgive us.
Christ have mercy.
We run away from those who abuse you:
Lord, forgive us.
Christ have mercy.
We are afraid of being known to belong to
you:
Lord, forgive us.
Christ have mercy.
Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant
Lord,
we come to you in sorrow for our sins,
and confess to you our weakness and unbelief.
We have lived by our own strength,
and not by the power of your resurrection.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Lord, hear us and help us.
We have lived by the light of our own
eyes,
as faithless and not believing.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Lord, hear us and help us.
We have lived for this world alone,
and doubted our home in heaven.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Lord, hear us and help us.
God our Father,
long-suffering, full of grace and truth,
you create us from nothing and give us life.
You give your faithful people new life in the water
of baptism.
You do not turn your face from us,
nor cast us aside.
We confess that we have sinned
against you and our neighbour.
We have wounded your love and marred your image in us.
Restore us for the sake of your Son,
and bring us to heavenly joy,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us admit to God the sin which always confronts us.
Lord God,
we have sinned against you;
we have done evil in your sight.
We are sorry and repent.
Have mercy on us according to your love.
Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.
Renew a right spirit within us
and restore us to the joy of your salvation,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
cf Psalm 51
God our Father,
we come to you in sorrow for our sins.
For turning away from you,
and ignoring your will for our lives;
Father, forgive us:
save us and help us.
For behaving just as we wish,
without thinking of you;
Father, forgive us:
save us and help us.
For failing you by what we do,
and think and say;
Father, forgive us:
save us and help us.
For letting ourselves be drawn away from
you
by temptations in the world about us;
Father, forgive us:
save us and help us.
For living as if we were ashamed
to belong to your Son;
Father, forgive us:
save us and help us.
Almighty God,
long-suffering and of great goodness:
I confess to you,
I confess with my whole heart
my neglect and forgetfulness of your commandments,
my wrong doing, thinking, and speaking;
the hurts I have done to others,
and the good I have left undone.
O God, forgive me, for I have sinned against you;
and raise me to newness of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
My God, for love of you
I desire to hate and forsake all sins
by which I have ever displeased you;
and I resolve by the help of your grace
to commit them no more;
and to avoid all opportunities of sin.
Help me to do this,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us return to the Lord our God and say
to him:
Father,
we have sinned against heaven and against you.
We are not worthy to be called your children.
We turn to you again.
Have mercy on us,
bring us back to yourself
as those who once were dead
but now have life through Christ our Lord. Amen.
cf Luke 15
Lord God, our maker and our redeemer,
this is your world and we are your people:
come among us and save us.
We have wilfully misused your gifts of
creation;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have seen the ill-treatment of
others
and have not gone to their aid;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have condoned evil and dishonesty
and failed to strive for justice;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have heard the good news of
Christ,
but have failed to share it with others;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have not loved you with all our
heart,
nor our neighbours as ourselves;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
Man born of woman has but a short time to
live.
We have our fill of sorrow.
We blossom like a flower and wither away.
We slip away like a shadow and do not stay.
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.
In the midst of life we are in death;
where can we turn for help?
Only to you, Lord,
who are justly angered by our sins.
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.
Shut not your ears to our prayers,
but spare us, O Lord.
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.
You know the secrets of our hearts;
forgive us our sins.
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.
Eternal and merciful judge,
both in life and when we come to die,
let us not fall away from you.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy and merciful Saviour,
do not abandon us to the bitterness of eternal
death.
Short sentences may be inserted between the petitions of the Kyrie, suitable for particular seasons or themes. The insertion of such sentences may replace any form of confession, provided that the sentences are of a penitential character, and are followed by an authorized form of absolution. The forms of Kyrie Confession which follow are examples only.
We have not always worshipped God, our
creator.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We have not always followed Christ, our
Saviour.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
We have not always trusted in the Spirit,
our guide.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you
our lack of care for the world you have given us.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you
our selfishness in not sharing the earth's bounty
fairly.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
We confess to you
our failure to protect resources for others.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ came in humility to share our
lives:
forgive our pride.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ came with good news for all
people:
forgive our silence.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ came in love to a world of
suffering:
forgive our self-centredness.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We are often slow to follow the example of
Christ.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We often fail to be known as Christ's
disciples.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
We often fail to walk the way of the
cross.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Like Mary at the empty tomb,
we fail to grasp the wonder of your presence.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Like the disciples behind locked
doors,
we are afraid to be seen as your followers.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Like Thomas in the upper room,
we are slow to believe.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you our selfishness and lack
of love:
fill us with your Spirit.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you our fear and failure in
sharing our faith:
fill us with your Spirit.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
We confess to you our stubbornness and lack
of trust:
fill us with your Spirit.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
You raise the dead to life in the
Spirit.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
You bring pardon and peace to the broken in heart.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
May your loving mercy come to me, O
Lord,
and your salvation according to your word:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Your word is a lantern to my feet and a
light to my path:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
O let your mercy come to me that I may
live,
for your law is my delight:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Against you, you only have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
cf Psalm 51
In a dark and disfigured world
we have not held out the light of life:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
In a hungry and despairing world
we have failed to share our bread:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
In a cold and loveless world
we have kept the love of God to ourselves:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Friend of sinners, you bring hope in our
despair.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Healer of the sick, you give strength in
our weakness.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Destroyer of evil, you bring life in our
dying.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
God be gracious to us and bless us,
and make your face shine upon us:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
May your ways be known on the earth,
your saving power among the nations:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
You, Lord, have made known your salvation,
and reveal your justice in the sight of the nations:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you wept over the sins of your
city.
On our city: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you heal the wounds of sin and division,
jealousy and bitterness.
On us: Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you bring pardon and peace to the sinner.
Grant us peace: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
You made us to be one family,
yet we have divided humanity.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
You were born a Jew to reconcile all
people,
yet we have brought disharmony amongst races.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
You rejoice in our differences,
yet we make them a cause of enmity.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
All of these absolutions are authorized for use with any authorized Confession. Indications of themes and seasons should be understood as suggestions only.
The printing of any of these absolutions in either the 'you' or the 'us' form has no doctrinal or other significance. In most cases, either a 'you' or 'us' form can be used (though those who are not ordained priest should use the 'us' form). Words in italics indicate the points where changes may be necessary. Absolution B75 is intended for use by those ordained priest.
The almighty and merciful Lord
grant you pardon and
forgiveness of all your
sins,
time for amendment of life,
and the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from
all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you
in all goodness,
and keep you in life
eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May almighty God,
who sent his Son into the world to save sinners,
bring you his pardon and
peace, now and for ever.
Amen.
The Lord enrich you with his grace,
and nourish you with his
blessing;
the Lord defend you in
trouble and keep you from
all evil;
the Lord accept your
prayers,
and absolve you from your offences,
for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
Amen.
May the God of love
bring us back to
himself,
forgive us our sins,
and assure us of his eternal
love
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting
life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
God, the Father of mercies,
has reconciled the world to himself
through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus
Christ,
not counting our trespasses against us,
but sending his Holy Spirit
to shed abroad his love among us.
By the ministry of reconciliation
entrusted by Christ to his Church,
receive his pardon and peace
to stand before him in his strength alone,
this day and evermore.
Amen.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
who in his great mercy
has promised forgiveness of sins
to all those who with heartfelt repentance and true faith
turn to him:
have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from
all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you
in all goodness,
and bring you to everlasting
life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May the Father forgive us
by the death of his Son
and strengthen us
to live in the power of the Spirit
all our days.
Amen.
May the Father of all mercies
cleanse us from our sins,
and restore us in his
image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May the God of all healing and
forgiveness
draw us to himself,
and cleanse us from all
our sins
that we may behold the glory of his Son,
the Word made flesh,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May the God of love and power
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by
his Spirit,
and raise you to new life in
Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Almighty God,
who in Jesus Christ has given us
a kingdom that cannot be destroyed,
forgive us our sins,
open our eyes to God's
truth,
strengthen us to do God's
will
and give us the joy of his
kingdom,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May God who loved the world so much
that he sent his Son to be our Saviour
forgive us our sins
and make us holy to serve
him in the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May God our Father forgive us our sins
and bring us to the
fellowship of his table
with his saints for ever.
Amen.
May God our Father forgive us our sins,
and bring us to the eternal
joy of his kingdom
where dust and ashes have no dominion.
Amen.
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004