Absolution

Heritage Lutheran Church
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Confession and Absolution

Questions and answers from Luther's Small Catechism.

What is confession?

Confession consists of two parts. One is that we confess our sins. The other is that we receive absolution or forgiveness from the confessor as from God himself, by no means doubting but firmly believing that our sins are thereby forgiven before God in heaven.

What sins should we confess?

Before God we should acknowledge that we are guilty of all manner of sins, even those of which we are not aware, as we do in the Lord's Prayer. Before the confessor, however, we should confess only those sins of which we have knowledge and which trouble us.

What are such sins?

Reflect on your condition in the light of the Ten Commandments: whether your are a father or mother, a son or daughter, a master or servant; whether you have been disobedient, unfaithful, lazy, ill-tempered, or quarrelsome; whether you have harmed anyone by word or deed; whether you have stolen, neglected, or wasted anything, or done other evil.

Heritage Lutheran Church offers the sacrament of Confession at the beginning of every worship service. A General Confession is generally used followed by an Absolution by the Pastor that is presiding over the worship. Contact the Pastor if a Personal confession is desired.