Holy God,
We cry out to you for mercy for the ways we have sinned. Our nation has sinned against First Peoples, African slaves, and other people groups in ways that do not recognize them as created in your image, precious and loved. Forgive us as a nation for these sins. Forgive us as a nation for the current sins of judging others by their skin color or ethnicity, murdering babies in the womb, not protecting children, the infirm, old, or handicapped, and not taking good care of the earth you have created. Forgive us for the ways in which we are distracted by the latest fads, news reports, money-making schemes, and so many other things that keep us distracted from your real presence. Create in us clean hearts, renew a right spirit within us as a nation, so that we may dwell in your sacred tent and live on your holy mountain. Help us to claim the reality that when we confess our sins you are faithful to forgive us and then cast those sins as far as the East is from the West so that we are completely forgiven. May we fear the Lord, drawing near to you, so that we will never be shaken but live the joyful, abundant life you call us to live.
In the great name of Christ,
Amen.
1
Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
2
The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
3
whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
4
who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5
who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.
Psalm 15 NIV
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