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THE PRAYERS (with Lessons and Hymns following), 

Ash Wednesday, Cycle B (February 14, 2018)

 

THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

 

Let us humbly beseech God for his mercy upon the Church, the world, and one another.

 

A brief silence

 

Have mercy on your Church, O Lord. Cleanse it from false teaching, feigned holiness, and fake discipleship. Form it in the likeness of your dear Son, fill it with your Holy Spirit, and use it to draw all people to yourself.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Have mercy on your persecuted servants, O Lord. Cleanse them from bitterness, hatred, or thirst for revenge. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and use them to lead the enemies of Christ to repentance and salvation.

 

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

 

Have mercy on this congregation, O Lord. Cleanse us from apathy, inattention, and contention. Form us into the likeness of your dear Son, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and use us to draw our families, friends, and communities to the foot of Jesus’ Cross.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Have mercy on all who doubt your existence or your goodness, O Lord. Cleanse them from spiritual darkness, intellectual pride, or emotional despair. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and bless them with faith and trust in you, their Savior, Lord, and Friend.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Have mercy upon all who are entrusted with power and authority in this sin-shadowed world, O Lord. Cleanse them from cruelty, lust for power, and worship of self. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and use them to bring your blessings of peace, prosperity, and concord to all people.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy upon all who stand in harm’s way on behalf of others, O Lord. Cleanse them from wrong judgment or base motives in the execution of their duties. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and use them to bring a measure of safety, justice, and freedom in places of chaos and danger.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Have mercy on all whose lives are shadowed by suffering, sorrow, or any kind of evil, O Lord. Cleanse them from all that troubles them and prevents them from turning to you, their Strength and their Redeemer. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and restore them to wholeness and hope, in the company of all who love them.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Most holy and gracious Father, we commend into your mercy all our beloved dead. We who are but ashes and dust humbly beseech you for your mercy upon us as well. Cleanse us from every sin which separates us from you and from one another. Form us into the likeness of your dear Son, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and use us to help lighten our neighbor’s burdens throughout our earthly pilgrimage. Lead us, with all whom you have redeemed by the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, into your Kingdom, where, untroubled by sin, evil, or death, we may rejoice in your goodness and gaze upon your glory forever.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For these things, and for whatever else is needful, dear Father, we pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 


 

Scriptures and Suggested Hymns, February 14, 2018: Ash Wednesday

 

Joel 2:12-19 (Rend you heart, not your garments)

ELW: Joel 2:12, 12-17, OR Isaiah 58:1-12 (True fasting is doing justice)

Psalm 51:1-19 (Create in me a clean heart, O God)

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 (Ambassadors for Christ; now is the acceptable time Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 (Prayer, fasting, alms that are acceptable to God)

 

Opening Hymn may be omitted if Psalm 51 is spoken or chanted here):

LBW #99, O Lord, Throughout These Forty Days (LSB #418, ELW #319)

Hymn of the Day: LBW #307, Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive

(LSB #843, ELW #605)

OR WOV #659, O Sun of Justice (2nd verse great if you preach on 2 Corinthians text; tune is simple plainsong chant, or sing to the Doxology)

Communion 1: ELW #328, Restore in Us, O God

            OR LBW #103, O Christ, Thou Lamb of God

Communion 2: LBW #304, Today Your Mercy Calls Us (LSB #915)

OR  WOV 734, Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling (ELW #608)

Closing Hymn: LBW #218, Strengthen for Service, Lord (ELW #497)