PRAYER OF CONFESSION from PSALM 32 (a version for today)
A rich and full contentment comes to the person 
from whose life the burden of rebellion against God has been lifted;
whose sin is blotted out completely;
whom the LORD counts as being free from guilt;
and in whose spirit there is no dishonesty.
I kept silent;
I hoped it would all go away;
but my body grew old before its time,
as I struggled with the load I carried.
Day and night, day and night, 
your hand weighed heavy upon me,
and my tongue was hard and cracked,
like a drought-baked paddock.
But then I came to my senses, 
declaring my rebellion, 
and admitting that I could not blot out my sin.
I said, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD",
and then you lifted the crookedness of my sin from me
On the basis of this, let everyone with faith in you
pray to you in their time of distress;
despite the swirling floodwaters of life's troubles,
they shall not be overcome by them.
        When our restlessness drives us to gratify desires and fantasies, 
        Lord have mercy.
        When our restlessness leads us to expediency and rationalism,
        Christ have mercy
        When our restlessness blocks out your still, small voice,
        Lord have mercy
You are a hiding place for me:
protecting me amid my troubles;
surrounding me with shouts of deliverance.
I will give you understanding 
        and I will teach you the path you should follow.
I will give you counsel, with my eye upon you;
you will not be like a horse or a mule,
needing to be under bridle and halter.
 

WORDS OF ASSURANCE 
Many sufferings come to the unfaithful and the faithful,
but to trust in the LORD 
is to experience the embrace of God's lovingkindness.
So, rejoice in the LORD and exult, 
you who have been declared without guilt;
shout with joy all you whose lives are made right.
Hear then Christ's word of grace: "Your sins are forgiven."
Thanks be to God!

Looking for contemporary music and song resources? Try David MacGregor's Together to Celebrate
Or metrical psalms? Try Dale A. Schoening's Sing the Psalms

HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR LENT 4 - YEAR C
Joshua 5:9-12
For the fruits of all creation	TIS 168	SA 37
God whose farm is all creation	TIS 159	AHB 94
Jesus invites his saints	TIS 505	AHB 426
Robe yourself my soul, with gladness	TIS 503
Shout for joy! The Lord has let us feast	TIS 545
This is a day of new beginnings	TIS 653
Through all the changing scenes of life	TIS 112	AHB 30
Psalm 32
How blest are those whose great sin	TIS 20
I greet you, my Redeemer sure	TIS 198	AHB 128
Jesus, lover of my soul	TIS 211	AHB 139
You are my hiding-place	TIS 754
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Alleluia ... The Word of the Lord lasts	TIS 257
Come to be our hope, O Jesus	TIS 688
Forgive our sins as we forgive	TIS 635	AHB 564
God gives us a future	TIS 687
God sends us his Spirit to befriend and help us	TIS 412	AHB 324
God! When human bonds are broken	TIS 683
Holy Spirit, come confirm us	TIS 413	AHB 327
Holy Spirit, ever dwelling	TIS 410	AHB 323
In great thanksgiving	TIS 632
Love divine, all loves excelling	TIS 217	AHB 148
No weight of gold or silver	TIS 249
O breath of life, come sweeping through us	TIS 409	AHB 322
The Word of God lasts for ever	TIS 257
The love of God is greater far	TIS 151
They that believe and are baptized	TIS 479
We are your people, Lord, by your grace	TIS 468	SA 90
We know that Christ is raised and dies no more	TIS 489
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Come as you are, that's how I want you	TIS 693
Come, let us to the Lord our God	TIS 577	AHB 490
Hail our once-despised Jesus	TIS 373	AHB 295
I come with joy to meet my Lord	TIS 533	AHB 452
I danced in the morning	TIS 242	AHB 183
I need you, Lord, for I have seen	TIS 625
Lord I come to you, let my heart be changed	TIS 685
Lord of Creation, to you be all praise	TIS 626	AHB 557
Praise with joy the world's Creator	TIS 179