Prayers of the Church, Wednesday, March 5, 2025: Ash Wednesday, C
Joel 2:12-19 (return to the Lord with all your heart; sanctify a fast)
Psalm 51 (wash me from my sins; put a right spirit within me)
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 (be reconciled with God; don’t let his grace be in vain; we have
suffered for your sake)
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21(fast, pray, give alms, but don’t show them off before others)
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Opening Hymn: None; Psalm 51 is spoken or chanted
OR O Lord, Throughout These Forty Days: LBW #99, ELW #319, LSB #418
Hymn of the Day: Today Your Mercy Calls Us: LBW #304, LSB #915
OR Out of the Depths I Cry to You: LBW #295, ELW #600
LSB #607, From Depths of Woe I Cry To You (different translation)
Communion Hymn #1: For the Bread Which You Have Broken: LBW #200, ELW #494
OR God Loved the World So That He Gave: ELW #323 (tune is Rockingham Old – “When
I Survey the Wondrous Cross)
Communion Hymn #2:, Jesus, Your/Thy Blood and Righteousness: LBW #302, LSB #563
OR Here is Bread: ELW #483
Closing Hymn: Lord Jesus, Think on Me: LBW #309, ELW #599; LSB #610
OR The Glory of These Forty Days: WOV #657, ELW #320 (tune is “Lord, Keep Us
Steadfast in Your Word”; words attr. to Luther, very nice)
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Let us humbly beseech God for his mercy upon the Church, the world, and one another.
A brief silence
Most Holy Father, have mercy on this world that you created in love, though it has turned away from you. Most Holy Son, have mercy on people who sit in the darkness of sin and the shadow of death, and whom you came to save. Most Holy Spirit, have mercy on this fallen creation that cries out for its deliverance from futility and death.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy on your Church. Cleanse it from false teaching, holier-than-thou holiness, and fair-weather discipleship. Form it in the likeness of your Son. Fill it with your Spirit. Use it to draw all people to yourself.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy on your persecuted servants. Cleanse them from bitterness, hatred, or thirst for revenge. Form them into the likeness of your Son. Fill them with your Spirit. Use them to lead the enemies of Christ to repentance and salvation.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy on this congregation. Cleanse us from apathy, contention, and stinginess. Form us into the likeness of your Son. Fill us with your Spirit. 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. Cleanse them from ignorance, pride, and despair. Form them into the likeness of your Son. Fill them with your Spirit. 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. Cleanse them from cruelty, lust for power, and worship of self. Form them into the likeness of your Son. Fill them with your Holy Spirit. Use them to bring your blessings of justice, mercy, and peace to all people.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy upon all who stand in harm’s way on behalf of others. Cleanse them from wrong judgment or base motives. Form them into the likeness of your Son. Fill them with your Spirit. Use them to bring a measure of safety and freedom in dangerous places.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy on all whose lives are shadowed by suffering, sorrow, or any kind of evil. Cleanse them from all that troubles them and prevents them from turning to you, their Rock and their Redeemer. Form them into the likeness of your Son. Fill them with your Holy Spirit. 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 ashes and dust humbly beseech you for your mercy upon us as well. Cleanse us from the sins that 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.
