If I say, "Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light
around me turn to night,"  darkness is not dark to you, O
Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to
you are both alike.  Pslam 139:10,11 

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; whoever follows me
will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 8:12 

*The following Confession of Sin may then be said; or the Office may
continue at once with "O God make speed to save us."*


Confession of Sin 

*The Officiant says to the people* 

Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of
Almighty god our heavenly Father, to set forth his praise, to
hear his holy Word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf
of others, those things that are necessary for our life and our
salvation.  And so that we may prepare ourselves in heart and
mind to worship him, let us kneel in silence, and with
penitent and obedient hearts confess our sins, that we may
obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy. 

*or this* 

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. 

*Silence may be kept.* 

*Officiant and People together, all kneeling* 

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.