The following is the Van Dyke Confession, which has been used for centuries as gatherings of believers have corporately confessed their sin before God. After reading Psalm 51 together, it was used in the Ashes service to lead us into a time of individual confession. May it continue to be the cry of your heart during the season of Lent.
Most holy and merciful Father;
We acknowledge and confess in Thy Presence:
Our sinful nature prone to evil and slothful in good;
And all our shortcomings and offenses against Thee.
Thou alone knowest how often we have sinned:
In wandering from Thy ways; In wasting Thy gifts;
In forgetting Thy love.
But Thou, O Lord, have pity upon us;
Who are ashamed and sorry for all wherein we have displeased Thee.
Teach us to hate our errors;
Cleanse us from our secret faults;
And forgive our sins;
For the sake of Thy dear Son our Saviour.
And O most holy and loving Father;
Send Thy purifying grace into our hearts, we beseech Thee;
That we may henceforth live in Thy light and walk in Thy ways;
According to the commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
