Prayers of the Church, Ash Wednesday (February 22, 2023)
Joel 2:12-19 (Declare a fast; repent, pray)
Psalm 51 (Create in me a clean heart!)
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 (Be reconciled to God and one another; now is the
acceptable time!)
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 (On prayer, fasting, and giving alms)
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Let us lift our hearts and voices to the Lord in prayer on behalf of all his people.
A brief silence
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us. As you are holy, make us holy. As you are mighty, give us strength to turn from sin to live for you alone. As you are immortal, by the death and resurrection of our Savior Christ, lead us out of death to life.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Have mercy upon your church. Purge it of false teaching, uncharitable words, and unholy actions. Fill it with your Holy Spirit, and use it to grant the joy of your saving help to all repentant sinners.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Have mercy upon all who are persecuted on account of your Jesus. Keep them steadfast in faith, patient in suffering, persistent in prayer, and gracious in forgiving. Soften the hearts of all who despise Christ. Grant them repentance and true faith.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Have mercy on seminary and church college professors, on Christian school and preschool teachers and aides, and on everyone seeking to follow Jesus as his disciple. Give wisdom to their minds, eloquence to their tongues, and love to their souls, for you and for all they serve.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Have mercy on this congregation. Cleanse it from everything that obscures your love for us, and for those to whom we minister. Grant that we may prefer nothing whatsoever to Jesus Christ, and to sharing his forgiveness and salvation with others.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Have mercy upon all converts, all who are preparing for baptism at Easter, and for all whose faith wavers and dims because of doubts or despair. Give them a double portion of your Spirit, and bring them into your loving embrace.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Have mercy upon the nations of the world and their rulers, especially our own. Lead them in paths of righteousness, justice, and mercy. Conform them to your will as they care for the lives entrusted to them. Never let them, or us, forget the needs of the poor, the widow, and the orphan; the dispossessed and unemployed; the sick and forgotten; the abused and the unjustly imprisoned. Give us the means and the will to ease their burden.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Have mercy on all who stand in harm’s way in defense of life and liberty. Strengthen them in every virtue that increases concord, establishes safety, and protects innocent lives.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Have mercy on all who suffer in body, mind, heart or soul – especially those who crave our prayers, including: {List}. Refresh their spirits, renew their hope, and restore their joy.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, keep in your care our beloved dead. Comfort those whose grief runs deep. Help us to encourage one another throughout this troubled life. Keep us steadfast in faith, constant in hope, and ardent in love. Lead us from death into the eternal life you have prepared for all whom you have redeemed through the passion of your Son, the Savior of the world.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Into your hands, gracious Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
