In a certain church, a woman was leading the congregation in the prayer of confession. She called the people to confess, reminding them of the sin within their hearts, and then all joined in reading the prayer of confession. She paused for the silent confession, and she kept pausing for a good long while. So long, in fact, that the people began to rustle as they waited for the next part of the service.

It was awkward, and more than a few worshipers thought she had lost her place or mislaid the piece of paper with the proper words written on it. Finally someone was overheard to murmur, "Just hurry up and forgive us, so we can shake hands and sit down."

I wonder sometimes, if that is how we feel when we come to the prayer when we confess our sins. For some people, it seems rather perfuncto…