C:\SMICHAEL\DOCUME~1\LITURG~1\ogden.htm

ABOUT SIN AND FORGIVENESS

A CHRISTIAN is not one who never sins, but one who when he sins does not lose his confidence in GOD and repents and continues the fight, with the help of GOD’S grace. As long as he keeps close to GOD to the best of his ability, never ceasing to hope in GOD, then he will be sure to win in the end, by GOD’S grace.

Source unknown

IF we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and there is no truth in us. But if we confess our sins to GOD ... He will forgive us our sins and make its clean from all our wrongdoing. If we say we have not sinned, we make a liar out of GOD. . . .

I John 1: 8-10

JESUS said to His Apostles—
“Receive the HOLY SPIRIT. If you forgive men’s sins, they are forgiven: if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

St. John 20:22, 23
and the Ordination of Priests in the Church of England

I COMMEND to you what is called “Going to Confession” or “Sacramental Confession”, the method whereby you confess your sins audibly in the presence of the priest, and receive from him audibly CHRIST’S absolution. The Church of England offers this way of Confession and Absolution to those who voluntarily choose it. It is a method thorough, painful, decisive, full of comfort . . . . because self has suffered a defeat.

Michael Ramsey,
Archbishop of Canterbury, 1961—1975

I DO NOT know which is the more dangerous to the eternal welfare of a soul, to come to Communion with an uneasy conscience or to stay away for good and all because one cannot quiet one’s own conscience. And against either of these dangers the Church of England provides the remedy of private confession . . . .

Canon Peter Green,
Rector of Sacred Trinity
then of Saint Philip, Salford (d. 1961)

I HAD THE BEST of parents, and a good Christian home. I was a Communicant, and had taught in Sunday School—I had lots of enjoyment in my life, but I hadn’t got the kind of Joy CHRIST spoke about, and I hadn’t got the peace of GOD in my heart . . . .

One evening in Holy Week I found myself in church where a man was preaching . . . . somehow GOD spoke to me that night and showed me that what I needed was to face out my past life more thoroughly than I had ever done before, to examine my life, and then to bring it all out in the open to my Saviour . . . .

I spent a good deal of time examining my life from my early days, and I wrote it all down; very ugly it looked in black and white. Then on Easter Eve—I shall never forget that day—I went into church and I knelt down, and told GOD everything—the things I was most ashamed of—in the presence of one of GOD’S ministers. I did it in that way, partly because it seemed the most honest thing to do, partly because I knew CHRIST had said to His disciples: “Whosoever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven.” I wanted that message of forgiveness spoken to my personally: thank GOD, I had it; and I can tell you as simply as I know how, that I got up from my knees a different man. The burden of a lifetime had gone: joy and peace became real, and the whole world had become a different place.

Now I knew what those words mean—“The blood of JESUS CHRIST cleanseth from all sin,” and afterwards came a great longing that other people might know what JESUS CHRIST can do for a sinner.

You see, I had believed in a way—I had been baptized, I had been confirmed! I’m very glad I had; but something was blocking up the way, the channel was choked. It wasn’t my parents’ fault; it wasn’t the fault of circumstances; it was my fault. Now through faith and repentance JESUS had touched me and said: “Be clean,” and the HOLY SPIRIT had His chance. Looking back, I can thank GOD who sent that man to disturb my peace . . . to give me CHRIST’S peace in the Church.

Brother Edward (d. 1953)

1. Prepare

Be in church in plenty of time
kneel
be quiet, still and alert

AS I come to confess my sins to GOD
I sign myself with Christ’s @ Cross
and remember the ONE GOD,
the Three in One and One in Three,
who is—
    FATHER of glory,
        my Friend who makes me:
    CHRIST our Saviour,
        my Friend who saves me:
    HOLY SPIRIT,
        my Friend who guides me.

(Concentrate on GOD in silence)

GOD is loving and merciful.
He has chosen me to be His own.
He always loves me, even when I turn from Him
and sin in my self-centredness.
Even then He loves me, and longs for me
to turn back to Him, sorrowing for my sins.
He never ignores anyone who turns to Him.

LORD GOD, I know that if I say I have no sin
    I deceive myself, for my sins are many,
    even if I refuse to think of them.
But I know that it is time to turn to You,
    and not harden my heart against You:
    for my sins have caught up with me,
        they make my life a living hell,
        and I have no peace of mind because of eeeeee them.

SO I turn to You, LORD, in my despair!
    Listen to my cry for help,
        for You are the only one who can help me,
        the only one who can give me full eeeeee forgiveness,
        the only one who can give me peace of eeeeee mind!

LORD, You know all about me: nothing is secret from You!
    Please help me to see myself as You see me,
        so that I can find out all my sins in Your eeeeeee company,
        be truly sorry for them,
        and confess them to You.
Then turn to me, LORD, and have mercy on me:
    forgive all my sins:
    and guide me in the eternal life.

2. Be honest with God

THINK CAREFULLY and honestly about yourself, admitting to yourself all your sins, great and small. WRITE your sins on paper so you won’t forget them or try to hide them.
First write down the sins that come immediately to your mind. Then use the list below to remind you of other sins you may have forgotten or refuse to think about.
DON’T just say vaguely: “I’ve been bad”— say how you have been bad. Don’t accuse yourself of things you haven’t done; and don’t name or blame other people. It’s your sins you’re bothered about.

DO I love GOD most of all?. . . . Do I let anything else take His rightful place in my life— myself, someone else, work, sex, money, pleasure, getting on, etc. ?. . . . Do I miss meeting Him at His Eucharist every Sunday and every main Holy Day, for no good reason ? . . . . If I miss the Eucharist on any of these days do I pretend it doesn’t matter? . . . . Do I get annoyed if I am reminded that I have failed to do my duty to GOD? . . . . Am I reverent in church, or do I stop others and myself from concentrating on GOD by needless talking and whispering? . . . . Do I just trip to the altar for Holy Communion without thinking WHO I am going to meet and receive in the Holy Sacrament? . . . . Do I think I know everything about the Christian Faith, and have nothing more to learn from GOD or His clergy or other fellow Christians? . . . . Do I pray with GOD every day? . . . . Am I a prayerless Christian? . . . . Do I welcome strangers in church, or do I make them feel unwelcome and unwanted?

DO I love, respect, and help my family (parents, wife, husband, children, etc.) ? . . . Is home-life a hell because of rne? . . . . Do I spend sufficient time with my family? . . . . When things go wrong at work or elsewhere, do I vent my anger on my family? . . . . Is my family against GOD and His Church because of me? . . . . Do I set a disciplined and loving example in Christian worship and life to my family? . . . . Does my family come before GOD? . . . . Is my family too closely knit, too inward looking, and unfriendly to others? . . . .

DO I regard my sexual impulses as a gift from GOD or as a necessary evil? . . . . Am I obsessed with sex, making it the centre of my life? . . . . Do I use my sexual impulses only in a loving relationship? . . . . Am I faithful to my wife or husband? . . . . Do I interfere in other people's marriages? . . . .

DO I hate anybody? . .. . Am I jealous of anybody? . .Do I brood over real or imaginary hurt? . . . . Am I unwilling to forgive anybody? . . . . Is my tongue a vicious weapon which deeply hurts others by lying, slandering and malicious gossip? . . . . Have I hurt anybody physically? . . . . Is anyone’s life a living hell because of me? . . . . Do I enjoy causing trouble? . . . . Do I make “bullets for others to fire”, and then remain quietly in the background? . . . . Do I meddle in other people’s private affairs? . . . . If I dislike anyone, do I still try to want what is best for them? . . . . Am I unkind to animals, which are made by GOD like me? . . . .

DO I keep myself to myself, aloof, unfriendly and unwelcoming to others? . . . . Am I too exclusive in my friendships ? . . . . Am I a loyal friend? . . . . Is my group of friends a troublesome clique? . . . .

DO I show the love and compassion of CHRIST to the lonely, the old and the sick? . . . . To those who are despised, mocked, rejected and persecuted by others (minority groups, real or imaginary sinners, social misfits, people of another race or colour, etc.)? . . . . Do I react to them like JESUS, who when a crowd was intending to stone to death an adulterous woman, said: “Let him who has never sinned throw the first stone” ? . . . . Am I narrow-minded, bigoted, hard-hearted, unloving, snobbish or unsociable? . . . . Am I a good neighbour to all in genuine need? . . . . Do I pretend that evil is good, or that good is evil ? . .

DO I do a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay? . . . . Do I remember that I must answer to GOD regarding my work? . . . . Do I want money for nothing, not working hard enough or doing my work carelessly and badly ? . . . . Do I take a rightful pride in my work ? . . . . Do I pick and steal? . . . . Am I ruthless in business? . . . . Does money count more than people in my life and work? . . . . Am I harsh to those under me? . . . . Do I make a god out of my work, neglecting GOD and my family and others because of it? . . .

AM I a “flash in the pan”, full of enthusiasm for the latest new thing, but soon losing interest and letting others down by breaking promises and trust? . . . . Do I keep my promises to GOD and His Church and others? . . . .

DO I take on more paid or unpaid work than I can cope with? . . . . If unable to do anything I have promised to do, do I admit it and resign quickly and quietly without fuss? . . . . Or do I hang on in a spirit of martyrdom, waiting to find some excuse so that I can resign blaming others? . . . .. Am I too busy? . . . . Do I have enough time off from work to worship GOD, enjoy my family, and rightfully rest and enjoy myself ? . . . .

DO I think I am too good to need forgiving by GOD or anyone else?

DO I think I am too bad to be forgiven by GOD or anyone else?

DO I hate myself?

3. Be truly sorry

LORD JESUS,
these are the sins I recognize in myself,
which I have committed by my own fault
in thought, word, deed or neglect.

LORD JESUS, let me condemn my sin
IN THY COMPANY,
FACE TO FACE WITH THY HOLINESS.

Though I bow my head and heart in shame,
        still let Thy hand clasp mine;
    let it be Thy love which searches me,
        Thy sorrow which wakens my sorrow;
        and deepens it for knowing
            I have wounded my Friend,
            my Master, my God.

Yea, Lord, I have crucified
        and crucify Thee again,
    by many different sins,
    by often repeating each,
    by obeying, crowning, my self.

Forgive me, forgive me, Lord Jesus:
    Lord Jesus, wash me clean,
    Lord Jesus, make me whole,
    Lord Jesus, hold me fast
            IN THY COMPANY
                for ever.

Coram Christo
by Erie Milner-White
Dean of York (d. 1963)

WHO was the guilty? Who brought this upon Thee?
    Alas, my treason, JESU, hath undone Thee.
    ’Twas I, Lord JESU, I it was denied Thee:
            I crucified Thee.

4. Confess to God

Kneel where the priest hears Confessions

Priest: MAY the LORD be in your heart and in your lips that you may truly Confess your sins in the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT. Amen.

You say: @ IN the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT. Amen.
I CONFESS to Almighty GOD, FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT, before the whole Church of GOD, and you father,
that I have sinned in thought, word, deed and by neglect, through my own fault.
Especially, I remember these sins (since my last confession, which was . . .   ago):
    now mention all your sins. Use your ee written list to remind you. When you have ee finished confessing say—
For these and all my other sins which I cannot now remember, I am truly sorry, and intend to lead a better life by GOD’S grace. FROM GOD I ask forgiveness: and from you, father, I ask advice, penance and Absolution.
   If you ask for advice the priest will do his best ee to help you.

THE ABSOLUTION

Priest: OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, who has left power to His Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in Him, of His great mercy forgive all your sins: and by His authority given to me, I @ Absolve you from all your sins, in the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT. Amen

GO in peace, the LORD has forgiven all your sins; and pray for me, a sinner like you.