A LITANY OF ATONEMENT

            For Yom Kippur

Responsive Reading  #637 (Hymnal: Singing the Living Tradition)

— by Rev. Robert Eller-Isaacs (UU minister, currently servicing inSt. Paul,MN)

For remaining silent when a single voice would have made a difference.

            We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love.

 For each time that our fears have made us rigid and inaccessible.

            We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love.

 For each time that we have struck out in anger without just cause

            We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love.

 For each time that our greed has blinded us to the needs of others

            We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love.

 For the selfishness which sets us apart and alone

            We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love.

 For falling short of the admonitions of the spirit

            We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love.

 For losing sight of our unity

            We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love.

For those and for so many acts both evident and subtle which have fueled the illusion of separateness

            We forgive ourselves and each other, we begin again in love.