The poem, “Forgiven in Christ: A Call-and-Response Celebration of Victory for All to Join,” is a participatory piece designed for group settings. It features a leader reciting four stanzas about forgiveness in Christ—covering past, present, and future sins, and a victorious future—while the audience joins in with the refrain: “Forgiven, forgiven, in Christ I’m free! Victorious, victorious, His love lifts me!” Each stanza is introduced with a “Call to Gather and Proclaim,” and the poem concludes with a “Final Invitation for All Voices to Unite in Praise,” where everyone recites the refrain together, celebrating Christ’s mercy and victory.

Leader: In Christ, my past is washed, I’m set apart,
The chains of yesterday, they fall away,
His mercy mends my broken, weary heart,
A brand-new start with every breaking day.

Audience (refrain):
Forgiven, forgiven, in Christ I’m free!
Victorious, victorious, His love lifts me!

Leader: In Christ, my present sins are cast aside,
Each stumble met with grace I don’t deserve,
His love surrounds me like a rushing tide,
Through every trial, His peace will still preserve.

Audience (refrain):
Forgiven, forgiven, in Christ I’m free!
Victorious, victorious, His love lifts me!

Leader: In Christ, my future sins are swept from sight,
His cross has paid the price, the debt is clear,
Before I fall, His mercy shines so bright,
He lifts me up, I’ll never need to fear.

Audience (refrain):
Forgiven, forgiven, in Christ I’m free!
Victorious, victorious, His love lifts me!

Leader: In Christ, my future shines with endless light,
No fear can hold me, for His work is done,
My sins to come, He’s conquered in His might,
The battle’s won, the victory is won!

Audience (refrain):
Forgiven, forgiven, in Christ I’m free!
Victorious, victorious, His love lifts me!

Leader (final call):
Now let us sing, our voices raised as one,
Proclaim His love, His mercy, and His might!

All together (final refrain):
Forgiven, forgiven, in Christ I’m free!
Victorious, victorious, His love lifts me!