Private Absolution is available only by appointment at this time. Please call the Pastor

NOTE: The following is taken from Luther's Small Catechism.

What is confession?
Confession has two parts. The one is that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive Absolution from the minister as from God Himself, not doubing but firmly believing that our sins are thus forgiven before God in heaven.

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 minister we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts.

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?

How will the minister assure a penitent sinner of forgiveness?
He will say, "By the authority of Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

AN ORDER FOR HOLY ABSOLUTION

The confession made by the penitent is protected from disclosure. The minsiter is all times obligate to respect the confidential nature of a confession, for it is made not to him, but to Christ.

The penitent approaches the minsiter and kneels in the place designated for private confession and absolution.

Penitent: O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your praise. You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart- these, O God, You will not despise.

Dear Pastor, I ask you please to hear my confession and to pronounce forgiveness to me in order to fulfill God's will.

Pastor: Speak on.

Penitent: I have lived as if God did not matter and as if I mattered the most. My Lord's Name I have not honored as I should; my worship and prayers have faltered. I have not let His love have its way with me, and so my love for others has failed. My thoughts and desires have been soiled with sin.

What troubles me particularly is that...

Here the penitent confesses those sins, which disturb or grieve him.
The penitent concludes the confession of sins with the following words:

Dear Pastor, forgive me all my sins for the sake of my dear Lord Jesus Christ, who died for me and shed His blood for me on the corss for the forgiveness of sins.

The Pastor stands before the penitent.

Pastor: God be gracious to you and strengthen your faith in His word of Absolution.

Penitent: Amen.

Pastor: Do you believe that my forgiveness is God's forgiveness?

Penitent: Yes, I do.

The Pastor lays his hand on the head of the penitent and makes the sign of the holy cross upon the penitent's head.

Pastor: (Brother or Sister in Christ), in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Penitent: Amen.

The Pastor will know additional passages with which to comfort and strengthen the faith of those who have great burdens of conscience.

Pastor: The God of peace will sanctify you wholly and keep your spirit, soul, and body blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. Go in peace.