Peter

Yes I read the links you provided, but I don't quite see any obvious links to what I experienced in that particular Lutheran Church.
I want to say that I don’t have any problem with the confession the congregation read. What I had a problem with is the minister absolving the sins of all the congregation (I didn’t hear any qualification) based on their reading of the confession.
One of the things that a minister should be aware of is that many people only attend Church Christmas and Easter.

Just so you are aware; that particular Church is a Canadian affiliate of the Missouri Synod.

Tom