Prayer For Ash Wednesday
Loving God of renewal, remember your church: [pause]
those who guide your people,
those ordained to serve,
those called to lead.
For this, remember your mercy, God.
Heavenly God of forgiveness, remember your lands: [pause]
cities ravaged by war,
people plagued by hunger,
nations unable to reunite.
For this, remember your mercy, Father.
God of rest, remember your people: [pause]
those overwhelmed,
those cornered by fear,
those who have lost their path to you.
For this, show your mercy, Lord.
Lord God of salvation, remember our parish: [pause]
those who preach to the broken,
who shelter the homeless,
who look for safe refuge within our doors.
For this, remember your mercy, Lord.
God of living waters, remember our catechumens: [pause]
those who long to get to know you,
and those who hunger for your bread of life,
those who thirst for your cup of salvation.
For this, remember your mercy, Lord.
God of promise, remember the sick,
especially those we now name: [pause]
For this, remember your mercy, Lord.
God of resurrection, remember our dead,
especially those we now name: [pause]
For this, remember your mercy Lord. Amen.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
All that is not of God must die.
Also, all that is crushed will be made whole again.
Lord, all that is lost will be found again,
Father, may we repent of the ways that we did not serve you.
May we surrender to the tensions that tell us where we need to change,
Christ is coming walking towards the cross.
God may we see him clearly
Pouring out love
Pour out mercy
Pouring out peace.
May we kneel before him in humble devotion,
May we take up our cross and follow
And walk with Christ into the ways of life. Amen.
Almighty and Loving Father,
you do not hate anything you have made
and forgive the sins of all who are repentant.
Create and make in us clean and remorseful hearts.
So that, we can worthily regret our sins
and acknowledging our wickedness,
may we obtain from You, the Father of all mercy,
perfect absolution and forgiveness.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Loving God, today marks the beginning of a period of inner reflection and examination. Father, the days stretch before me and invite me inward to that silent, holy space that houses Your Holy Spirit. This special period invites me to examine my life through our Lord Jesus Christ's eyes and the truth and reality of your love embodied. Father, give me the grace to enter the atmosphere of these days with anticipation of our meeting. Lord, when I open my heart to your presence, let your loving kindness flow over me and seep into the pockets of my soul. I ask this for the sake of your love.
Heavenly Father, Blessed One, have mercy on us. Lord, as we repent our sins to You. We have been deficient in Your glory and without your mercy and grace, we would be non-existent. Father, we repent now. Lord, as we embark onto this Lenten season, be close to us. Help us Lord, through Your Holy Spirit, to believe in what is right and in repentance for our sin. Help us, by your Spirit, to have the strength to defeat the enemy.
Thank you, Father, that Easter is arriving! Death has no power, no victory, because of Jesus! Glory and honor and praise be to His Name! Lord, thank you for rescuing us. Help us appreciate both the importance and the joy of this season in our hearts and as we move through the next several weeks. Help us bear the good fruit of Your Spirit.
Father, thank you, for the ashes on our forehead do not symbolize our ultimate reality. We might have been formed from the dust , but our bodies, our spirits, ourselves, await beautiful redemption and the restoration of all things. Help us wait and look forward to that day, and let it come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Lord, Holy One, have mercy on us. We confess our sins to you. We have fallen short of your glory and without your mercy and grace, we would be dust. We repent now. Lord, as we enter into this Lenten season, be near to us. Help us, by your Holy Spirit, to feel right conviction and repentance for our sin. Help us, by your Spirit, to have the strength to overcome the enemy.
Thank you, Lord, that Easter is coming! Death has no sting, no victory, because of Jesus! Glory and honor and praise to His name! Thank you for rescuing us. Help us keep both the weight and the joy of this season in our hearts and we move through the next several weeks. Help us bear the good fruit of your Spirit.
Thank you that the ashes on our forehead do not symbolize our ultimate reality. From dust we might have been formed, but our bodies, our spirits, ourselves, await beautiful redemption and the restoration of all things. Help us long and look forward to that day, and let it come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Gracious God, today begins a period of inner reflection and examination. The days stretch before me and invite me inward to that silent, holy space that holds your Spirit. This special time beckons me to see my life through Christ's eyes and the truth and reality of your love incarnate. Give me the grace to enter the space of these days with anticipation of our meeting. And, when I open my soul to your presence, let your loving kindness flow over me and seep into the pockets of my heart. I ask this for the sake of your love.
I already feel that I have entered into the spirit of Lent. It is a painful season, especially as I remember the death of those I knew in Christchurch. Here is another prayer to begin the season.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
All that is not of God must die
All that is crushed will be restored
All that is lost will be made new
God may we repent of ways that do not serve you
And admit to the tensions that tell us where we need to change
Christ is coming walking towards the cross
God may we see him clearly
Pouring out love
Pouring out mercy
Pouring out peace
May we kneel before him in humble adoration
May we take up our cross and follow
And walk with Christ into the ways of life