Please find below the notes from the Elder's Prayer this past Sunday.

Sometimes the affliction or distress we find ourselves in life is our own fault. Because we've committed some sin, we now have to face the consequences of that sin.
One of the consequences of sin that we can sometimes feel is isolation. We can feel cut off from God, from family, from friends, from the church. We have sinned and now there is some separation between us and those close to us.
In spite of being our own worst enemy sometimes, we can turn to God for help. He will forgive us of our sins when we ask, and sometimes, he even removes the consequences of our sin. He can and does restore the relationships damaged by sin.

David in Psalm 25:16-18
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged, bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
When we sin, we can turn to God in confidence that he will receive us and forgive us. He won't turn away the repentant sinner.
And we know this for sure because God sent his son to tell us. Jesus steps into history to tell us and confirm for us that God will forgive.

Jesus says in John 6:35-37
I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

Coming to Jesus involves seeking forgiveness of sins. Not only that first-time forgiveness, but an ongoing forgiveness as we continue to sin. But when we sin, we can seek forgiveness with confidence that we will not be turned away.

Prayer
You alone are the living God, the one and only true God.
It is against you only that we sin, yet it is only you that can fully and completely forgive us of our sin.
Please forgive us when we sin - when we are unfaithful to you, when we don't love you as we should, when we doubt you.
Forgive us when we hate, forgive and remove the bitterness and hardness of our hearts, please forgive the pride in us that so often leads us to sin.
Please restore relationships that have been broken by our sin. Help us to see ways that we can escape the cycle of our ongoing, damaging sin.
Remind us when we sin that Jesus' death on the cross was your response to sin. When Jesus is put on the cross, you put our sin on him - he suffers and he dies to take away our sin forever.
Remind us that when we sin, we still have the hope that is found in the cross of Christ.
Your love for us is great. Your love for us amazing. There is nothing that we can compare your love to.
Amen