Authorized Forms of Confession and Absolution

		Authorized Forms of
		Confession and Absolution

		The forms of confession in the Order of Holy Communion and Morning and Evening Prayer in The Book of Common Prayermay be used on any occasion. These or one of the forms in the services in Common Worship should normally be used.

		It may sometimes be helpful to vary the form on particular occasions, in which case one of the confessions and absolutions which follow should be used. If possible, an absolution should be chosen which reflects the style, in language and length, of the confession. 'Us' and 'our' are said by those who are not ordained priest: words in italics indicate the points where changes may be necessary.

¶		Confessions

		Incarnation, Christmas

		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:
All		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:
All		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:
All		forgive and heal us.

		The shepherds left their flocks
		to go to Bethlehem.
		Forgive our self-interest and lack of vision.
		We have sinned:
All		forgive and heal us.

		The wise men followed the star
		to find Jesus the King.
		Forgive our reluctance to seek you.
		We have sinned:
All		forgive and heal us.

		Lent, Penitence

		Let us admit to God the sin which always confronts us.

All		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

		Cross, Failure in Discipleship

		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.
All		Christ have mercy.

		We fail to share the pain of your suffering:
		Lord, forgive us.
All		Christ have mercy.

		We run away from those who abuse you:
		Lord, forgive us.
All		Christ have mercy.

		We are afraid of being known to belong to you:
		Lord, forgive us.
All		Christ have mercy.

		Resurrection, Heaven, Glory,
		Transfiguration, Death, Funerals

		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.
All		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.
All		Lord, hear us and help us.

		We have lived for this world alone,
		and doubted our home in heaven.
		In your mercy, forgive us.
All		Lord, hear us and help us.

		Trinity, Mission

All		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.

		Creation, Harvest

		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:
All		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:
All		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:
All		forgive us and help us.

		We are thoughtless,
		and do not care enough for the world you have made.
		Father, in your mercy:
All		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:
All		forgive us and help us.

		City, World and Society

		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:
All		forgive us our sin.

		We have seen the ill-treatment of others
		and have not gone to their aid;
		Lord, be merciful:
All		forgive us our sin.

		We have condoned evil and dishonesty
		and failed to strive for justice;
		Lord, be merciful:
All		forgive us our sin.

		We have heard the good news of Christ,
		but have failed to share it with others;
		Lord, be merciful:
All		forgive us our sin.

		We have not loved you with all our heart,
		nor our neighbours as ourselves;
		Lord, be merciful:
All		forgive us our sin.

		Reconciliation

		Let us return to the Lord our God and say to him:

All		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

		Love, Peace

		Come, let us return to the Lord and say:

All		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

		General

		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:
All		save us and help us.

		For behaving just as we wish,
		without thinking of you;
		Father, forgive us:
All		save us and help us.

		For failing you by what we do,
		and think and say;
		Father, forgive us:
All		save us and help us.

		For letting ourselves be drawn away from you
		by temptations in the world about us;
		Father, forgive us:
All		save us and help us.

		For living as if we were ashamed
		to belong to your Son;
		Father, forgive us:
All		save us and help us.

		General

All		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.

		General

All		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.

		General

All		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.

		General

		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.
All		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.
All		Holy God,
		holy and strong,
		holy and immortal,
		have mercy upon us.

		Shut not your ears to our prayers,
		but spare us, O Lord.
All		Holy God,
		holy and strong,
		holy and immortal,
		have mercy upon us.

		You know the secrets of our hearts;
		forgive us our sins.
All		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.
All		Holy God,
		holy and mighty,
		holy and merciful Saviour,
		do not abandon us to the bitterness of eternal death.

		† or Those born of women have but a short time to live.

		General

All		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.

		General

All		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.


¶		Kyrie Confessions

		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. Some examples follow (see also here).

		Spirit

		You raise the dead to life in the Spirit:
		Lord, have mercy.
All		Lord, have mercy.

		You bring pardon and peace to the broken in heart:
		Christ, have mercy.
All		Christ, have mercy.

		You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided:
		Lord, have mercy.
All		Lord, have mercy.

		Word

		May your loving mercy come to me, O Lord,
		and your salvation according to your word:
		Lord, have mercy.
All		Lord, have mercy.

		Your word is a lantern to my feet and a light to my path:
		Christ, have mercy.
All		Christ, have mercy.

		O let your mercy come to me that I may live,
		for your law is my delight:
		Lord, have mercy.
All		Lord, have mercy.

		World

		God be gracious to us and bless us,
		and make your face shine upon us:
		Lord, have mercy.
All		Lord, have mercy.

		May your ways be known on the earth,
		your saving power among the nations:
		Christ, have mercy.
All		Christ, have mercy.

		You, Lord, have made known your salvation,
		and reveal your justice in the sight of the nations:
		Lord, have mercy.
All		Lord, have mercy.

		City

		Lord Jesus, you wept over the sins of your city.
		On our city: Lord, have mercy.
All		Lord, have mercy.

		Lord Jesus, you heal the wounds of sin and division,
		jealousy and bitterness.
		On us: Christ, have mercy.
All		Christ, have mercy.

		Lord Jesus, you bring pardon and peace to the sinner.
		Grant us peace: Lord, have mercy.
All		Lord, have mercy.


¶		Absolutions

		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.
All		Amen.

		May almighty God,
		who sent his Son into the world to save sinners,
		bring you his pardon and peace, now and for ever.
All		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.
All		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.
All		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.
All		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.
All		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.
All		Amen.

		May God our Father forgive us our sins,
		and bring us to the fellowship of his table
		with his saints for ever.
All		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.
All		Amen.

		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.
All		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.
All		Amen.

		May almighty God have mercy on us,
		forgive us our sins,
		and bring us to everlasting life,
		through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All		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.
All		Amen.

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
All of the official Common Worship publications are being published by Church House Publishing.