Chapel for Lent: Confession

(Calvin College Chapel March 7, 2006)

Gathering Song – Just a Closer Walk with Thee

Invitation
Welcome to this morning’s worship in Chapel. During this season of Lent, some chapels will focus on Spiritual Disciplines through prayer and singing. The opening song, “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” reminds us what the Spiritual Disciplines are about; that we might grow more like Christ in all that we do. Today we will spend time in confession to God through scripture, songs, and spoken and silent prayer. In just a moment we will sing “Kyrie Eleison.” It is a short refrain that means “Lord, have mercy.” We will sing it as a refrain while we confess our sins as the psalmist did with the words of Psalm 51. God calls to us through these words from John’s gospel: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes on him shall be saved.” Let us turn to him for mercy.

Refrain – Kyrie Eleison

Psalm 51:1-2
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Refrain – Kyrie Eleison

Psalm 51:3-5
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.
Refrain – Kyrie Eleison

O God, hear now our silent prayers of confession … (allow time for silent confession)

Refrain – Kyrie Eleison

Psalm 51:10-12
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Song – Create in Me

Prayer – Psalm 130 (read responsively)

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Song – 40 (based on Psalm 40, by U2)

Song – How Firm a Foundation
Parting Words – With the Lord there is steadfast love; go in his peace.

Note: This service used a “Kyrie” from Ghana; there are many other arrangements of that ancient liturgical sung prayer.

Additional Songs for a Service of Confession:
A Broken Spirit
And Can It Be
God Be Merciful to Me
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
How Firm a Foundation
I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cry
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Lord, Have Mercy
My Jesus I Love Thee
O Christ, the Lamb of God
O Lamb of God
O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
Out of the Depths
The Power of the Cross
The Steadfast Love of the Lord
There is a Redeemer
When I Survey/As Moses

More resources for worship during Lent