ASH WEDNESDAY
Prayer
Psalms And Prayers For Congregational Participation
CALL TO WORSHIP
Take joy in your salvation and be willing to obey God as the Spirit prompts you.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
GOD ABOVE ALL, YOU HAVE CREATED US FROM THE GROUND UP AND IN CHRIST CAME TO OUR TURF, TO SHOW
US AGAIN THAT THE EARTH IS YOURS AND YOU HAVE MADE ALL THINGS TO BE GOOD. YOUR OWN SPIRIT INFUSED LIFE INTO THE LIFELESS SO THAT THE HUMAN RACE SHOULD BE DISTINCT NOT IN ITS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES BUT IN ITS ABILITY TO CONTROL BEHAVIOR INDIVIDUALLY AND SOCIALLY. FORGIVE OUR LACK OF SELF-CONTROL AND OUR ABUSE OF WHAT YOU HAVE CREATED FOR THE GOOD OF ALL. MAY SUCH FASTING AND PENITENCE AS WE MAY PRACTICE ENABLE US TO BALANCE THINGS OUT AND TO BRING THE SPIRITUAL AND THE PHYSICAL INTO EQUILIBRIUM, FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God appointed the sinless Christ to share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the goodness of God. Friends, believe the Good News. IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION
Having received God's grace in Christ, do not let it be wasted, but express it to others enriching them as well.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
DISTINGUISHED AND DISTINGUISHING SPIRIT, GRANT US WISDOM, SO THAT BOTH OUR FASTING AND OUR CHARITABLE ACTIONS ARE INCONSPICUOUS. THEN ONLY YOU WILL KNOW WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND WE WILL BE CONTENT WITH YOUR PRIVATE REWARD. AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
MAKER, SHARER, AND SHAPER OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT, WE ARE THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN CAST IN STONE THAT CAN NOT BE RESHAPED. YOU FORGIVE OUR FAILURES AND GIVE US FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO RESTORE SOME OF THE BEAUTY OF YOUR IMAGE. WE CAN BE THANKFUL EVEN FOR THE TROUBLE AND SUFFERING THAT BRINGS US CLOSER TO YOU IN PRAYER. THEN AT LEAST WE MAY RECOGNIZE OUR NEED TO DEPEND ON YOU. WE WELCOME THIS LENTEN SEASON AS A TIME OF PERSONAL RENEWAL. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
ETERNAL GOD, RULER OF TIME AND SPACE, WE OFFER TO YOU AN EXPANDED PORTION OF OUR TIME AND INCREASED CONCENTRATION OF OUR ATTENTION DURING THIS LENTEN SEASON FOR OUR OWN GROWTH IN GRACE AND IN LOVE FOR YOUR FAMILY. AMEN
PSALM 51:1-13
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness;
IN YOUR GREAT COMPASSION BLOT OUT MY OFFENSES.
Wash me through and through from my wickedness
AND CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN.
For I know my transgression,
AND MY SIN IS EVER BEFORE ME.
Against you only have I sinned
AND DONE WHAT IS EVIL IN YOUR SIGHT.
And so you are justified when you speak,
AND UPRIGHT IN YOUR JUDGMENT.
Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth,
A SINNER FROM MY MOTHER'S WOMB.
For behold, you look for truth deep within me,
AND WILL MAKE ME UNDERSTAND WISDOM SECRETLY.
Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure;
WASH ME, AND I SHALL BE CLEAN INDEED.
Make me hear of joy and gladness
THAT THE BODY YOU HAVE BROKEN MAY REJOICE.
Hide your face from my sins,
AND BLOT OUT ALL MY INIQUITIES.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME.
Cast me not away from your presence
AND TAKE NOT YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME.
Take joy in your salvation and be willing to obey God as the Spirit prompts you.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
GOD ABOVE ALL, YOU HAVE CREATED US FROM THE GROUND UP AND IN CHRIST CAME TO OUR TURF, TO SHOW
US AGAIN THAT THE EARTH IS YOURS AND YOU HAVE MADE ALL THINGS TO BE GOOD. YOUR OWN SPIRIT INFUSED LIFE INTO THE LIFELESS SO THAT THE HUMAN RACE SHOULD BE DISTINCT NOT IN ITS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES BUT IN ITS ABILITY TO CONTROL BEHAVIOR INDIVIDUALLY AND SOCIALLY. FORGIVE OUR LACK OF SELF-CONTROL AND OUR ABUSE OF WHAT YOU HAVE CREATED FOR THE GOOD OF ALL. MAY SUCH FASTING AND PENITENCE AS WE MAY PRACTICE ENABLE US TO BALANCE THINGS OUT AND TO BRING THE SPIRITUAL AND THE PHYSICAL INTO EQUILIBRIUM, FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God appointed the sinless Christ to share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the goodness of God. Friends, believe the Good News. IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION
Having received God's grace in Christ, do not let it be wasted, but express it to others enriching them as well.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
DISTINGUISHED AND DISTINGUISHING SPIRIT, GRANT US WISDOM, SO THAT BOTH OUR FASTING AND OUR CHARITABLE ACTIONS ARE INCONSPICUOUS. THEN ONLY YOU WILL KNOW WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND WE WILL BE CONTENT WITH YOUR PRIVATE REWARD. AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
MAKER, SHARER, AND SHAPER OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT, WE ARE THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN CAST IN STONE THAT CAN NOT BE RESHAPED. YOU FORGIVE OUR FAILURES AND GIVE US FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO RESTORE SOME OF THE BEAUTY OF YOUR IMAGE. WE CAN BE THANKFUL EVEN FOR THE TROUBLE AND SUFFERING THAT BRINGS US CLOSER TO YOU IN PRAYER. THEN AT LEAST WE MAY RECOGNIZE OUR NEED TO DEPEND ON YOU. WE WELCOME THIS LENTEN SEASON AS A TIME OF PERSONAL RENEWAL. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
ETERNAL GOD, RULER OF TIME AND SPACE, WE OFFER TO YOU AN EXPANDED PORTION OF OUR TIME AND INCREASED CONCENTRATION OF OUR ATTENTION DURING THIS LENTEN SEASON FOR OUR OWN GROWTH IN GRACE AND IN LOVE FOR YOUR FAMILY. AMEN
PSALM 51:1-13
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness;
IN YOUR GREAT COMPASSION BLOT OUT MY OFFENSES.
Wash me through and through from my wickedness
AND CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN.
For I know my transgression,
AND MY SIN IS EVER BEFORE ME.
Against you only have I sinned
AND DONE WHAT IS EVIL IN YOUR SIGHT.
And so you are justified when you speak,
AND UPRIGHT IN YOUR JUDGMENT.
Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth,
A SINNER FROM MY MOTHER'S WOMB.
For behold, you look for truth deep within me,
AND WILL MAKE ME UNDERSTAND WISDOM SECRETLY.
Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure;
WASH ME, AND I SHALL BE CLEAN INDEED.
Make me hear of joy and gladness
THAT THE BODY YOU HAVE BROKEN MAY REJOICE.
Hide your face from my sins,
AND BLOT OUT ALL MY INIQUITIES.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME.
Cast me not away from your presence
AND TAKE NOT YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME.
