Bring us home

a confession and assurance of grace 
after Psalm 52 

We know we have done wrong,
our God, the Holy One;
we know that we are sometimes pleased
with ourselves, for causing harm.

Break down our false selves,
bring us home to your true love. 

Our tongues have been like razors,
our work more treacherous than kind;
we speak to wound much more
than giving voice to hope and healing.

Break down our false selves,
bring us home to your true love. 

We have acted without integrity,
we are too often dishonest, deceitful, unjust.
We cut others down when
we could have planted seeds of life.

Break down our false selves,
bring us home to your true love. 

We have been enticed by wealth,
by prosperity and success;
we have strayed from your path,
been unwise, unfaithful, untrue.

Break down our false selves,
bring us home to your true love. 

Pause 

Assurance of grace 

Turn again, to Holy One,
turn and seek refuge here,
in the faithful love of the Divine.
Become again green trees of life,
growing in your home, the soil of Holy One;
know yourselves restored to life,
praise Holy One, be ever thankful.
Amen.