This is a responsive prayer of confession based on Matthew 5:1-12.  The assurance of pardon is based on 1 Corinthians 1:30. The intent is that the leader speaks the plain text and the congregation speaks the bold.  Italicized words are for all.

Prayer of Confession

Gracious God, we come before you to confess that we have not fully lived out the folly of the Gospel.
You call us to be poor in spirit,

yet we often place our own desires over the needs of others.

You call us to mourn,

yet we insulate ourselves from the pain that surrounds us.

You call us to be meek,

yet we struggle mightily to appear strong and superior.

You call us to thirst for righteousness,

yet sometimes we just want to take the easiest path.

You call us to be pure in heart,

yet our hearts are pulled in many directions.

You call us to be peacemakers,

yet we struggle to live in peace with those closest to us and we are too often silent about the warring ways of our nation.

Forgive us, O God.

(Allow for a time of silence.)

Words of Assurance:

The scriptures state that Christ Jesus has become for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Thanks be to God that, through Christ, our sins are forgiven. May the peace of Christ be with you.