God of grace, you have always called your people to weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn;
We join our voices together today in lament, confession, and celebration for all that has been done and all that remains undone.
The effects of sin and brokenness are deep and wide: racism, sexism, abuse, economic disparity, slavery and oppression of every kind.
[Let us pause for an honest audit of societal and cultural brokenness]
May your grace and love heal with greater depth and width than any evil thing created or allowed by us.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess that we sinned against you, our neighbors, friends, family, and strangers by what we have done and what we have left undone.
[Let us pause for an honest audit of our deeds]
May your grace and love fill us and make us whole in spite of our propensity toward disobedience.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, your yoke is easy and your burden is light. We are weary and we are broken.
Will you stand in our place? Will you hold us up? Reconcile us with God, with our neighbor, and with ourselves, we pray.
We celebrate your grace and mercy toward us, oh God!