Take a piece of string and tie a knot in it for anything that weighs heavily on your heart and for what you would like to feel forgiven. Name each thing and untie a knot as you say sorry, trusting in God’s mercy.

God of justice and of mercy, we pray for those whose crimes seem beyond forgiveness: for those who kill, abuse, torture and exploit. Forgive them and us, whenever we hurt others. We ask this in Jesus’ name who called out, ‘Father, forgive them’, even as he died. Amen.