First Lesson: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17a
Theme: A call to repentance
Call to Worship|
Pastor: We stand before a very holy God who calls us into a life of holiness.
People: But we are unholy. Even our religious ceremonies do not cleanse us of our sins.
Pastor: God wants us to be truly penitent in our hearts, more than he wants our religious ceremonies. Then he will cleanse us of our sins.
People: May our worship be an honest expression of repentance and returning to God.
Collect
Holy Father, who is grieved by our sinfulness, and yet still offers forgiveness to the penitent: Hear the cries of our hearts as we repent of our sins, that your forgiveness may restore us in fellowship with you. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are religious people, Father, otherwise we wo…