Individual Confession
Individual Confession
Ever feel burdened by something that you just can’t get past? Do you have feelings of shame for something that you did or thought or said that you shouldn’t have? Do you have feelings of guilt because you know you screwed up? I have Good News for you! Jesus gives us the opportunity to confess our sins and receive his forgiveness personally applied to whatever the specific sin might be. In Confession and Absolution, you may confess your sins individually to pastor, and receive God’s forgiveness in return. Anything that you confess to the God through the pastor is completely confidential. The pastor will not be judgmental, and he will share with you Jesus’ gracious words of forgiveness with no strings attached. Your sins were destroyed on the cross; receive the gift of a clear conscience that is yours in Christ. Pastor is normally available Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., or by appointment. There is no reason to carry around the burden of sin. Let it go. Receive forgiveness and Christ’s love and acceptance in its place.
Luther’s Small Catechism
CONFESSION
First: What is Confession?
Confession has two parts. The one is that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive absolution or forgiveness from the pastor* as from God himself, not doubting but firmly believing that our sins are thus forgiven before God in heaven.
Second: What sins should we confess?
Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer. But before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts.
Third: How can we recognize these sins?
Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments. Are you a father, mother, son, daughter, employer or employee? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you hurt anyone by word or deed? Have you been dishonest, careless, wasteful, or done other wrong?
Fourth: How will the pastor assure a penitent sinner of forgiveness?
He will say, “By the authority of Christ, I forgive you your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
*The German term is best translated as “confessor,” that is, the person who hears the confession.
