Pastor Steve’s Blog December 23, 2018 Cindy and I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a “Very Merry Christmas.” Many at Christmas enjoy a short liturgy to help celebrate the love of God. Below is one way of showing a response to that great love shown to us by God through his son Jesus by taking a moment to confess our sin and receive positive words of assurance. Prayer of Confession (Based on Titus 2:11-12) “Gracious God, in Jesus Christ you offer us salvation, healing from sin, and the Spirit’s power to live a new life. You long to teach us what is right. But often we are careless and, other times, we are willful in our pursuit of those things that do not honor your name or lead us to a joyful life. Forgive us and teach us to live sensible, ethical, and godly lives right now.” Amen. Assurance of Pardon (Based on Titus 2:13-14) “On this Christmas morning, our waiting is over. Christ is born to us, revealing our blessed hope of salvation. Hear these words and know God’s power to heal, save, and forgive. ‘He gave himself for us in order to rescue us from every kind of lawless behavior, and cleanse a special people for himself who are eager to do good actions.’ (vs. 14).” Liturgy taken from “The Abingdon Preaching Annual” 2017, p. 169.