This is a very simple way of providing space for confession in the context of worship. Place it ahead of reflective sung worship, or ahead of sending out. Or it can simply be a response to hearing the Bible reading.
Give everyone a heart made from cardboard and a pen. Provide some space for reflection, and ask the congregation to search their hearts and see what's in them: What do they love the most at the moment? What do they fear the most? What do they worry about, care about, think about?
Ask the congregation to write these things on the cardboard hearts.
Read the passage from Jeremiah 17:5-10.
Ask the congregation to place their cardboard hearts in front of them, with the writing facing down. Pray (something like this):
"Gracious Father God, so often we turn our hearts away from you.
Perhaps not willingly, but more by chance:
we fill our hearts with concerns and keep them close to ourselves.
We are sorry for the times we have not turned our hearts towards you to let you search us.
We are sorry for the times we have turned our hearts away from you because we fear your judgement, or because we are selfish with the things of our hearts and worry about what you will do if we share with you.
We are sorry and we repent, because we know that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness.
(leave space for personal confession)
Thank you for forgiving us Father God, because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, making a way for us to come to you.
Now, we turn our hearts to you.
(signal to the congregation to turn their cardboard hearts over)
Lord, search our hearts, we lay them before you.
Carry our burdens, share our joys and
show us where we are not walking your way.
We turn our hearts to you.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
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