Prayers of Confession: "Order of Worship" Catechism

Continuing to walk through the Order of Worship of the First Presbyterian Church of Perth Amboy:

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO AT CHURCH?

Why are there two Prayers of Confession?

To recognize the corporate (group) nature and the individual nature of sin and what all separates us from God.

Why first a unison Prayer of Confession?

By praying together as a congregation, we stand together before the throne of grace.  First and foremost, the church gathers believers together to worship in community with one another.  Our united prayer recognizes also that sin can be corporate (as a group) as well as individual in nature.  The prayer is designed to be broad to lead people to examine the wide areas of their life where confession may be necessary.

Why follow with individual prayers of confession?

This is the opportunity for members of the church to “go deep” in their prayers.  What things have happened in their lives that go beyond the unison prayer?  What particular things are in need of the Lord’s blessing and forgiveness?  It is a moment of safety between the individual and their Lord to speak of the deep things of the soul, things too personal to share, even in a company of believers.

What is the Assurance of Pardon?

Jesus died to take away the sins of the world.  That is what the Bible teaches.  The assurance is a reminder that our prayers are not in vain.  It reminds us of what Christ paid in order to Pardon us from the sins for which we would otherwise be judged for.