18A - Ash Wednesday — 20A - Lent 2A
See also my post from 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (from Psalm 32, a version for today)
A rich and full contentment comes to the person
from whose life the burden of rebellion against God has been lifted;
whose sin is blotted out completely;
whom the LORD counts as being free from guilt;
and in whose spirit there is no dishonesty.
I kept silent;
I hoped it would all go away;
but my body grew old before its time,
as I struggled with the load I carried.
Day and night, day and night,
your hand weighed heavy upon me,
and my tongue was hard and cracked,
like a drought-baked paddock.
But then I came to my senses,
declaring my rebellion,
and admitting that I could not blot out my sin.
I said, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD”,
and then you lifted the crookedness of my sin from me
On the basis of this, let everyone with faith in you
pray to you in their time of distress;
despite the swirling floodwaters of life’s troubles,
they shall not be overcome by them.
When our restlessness drives us to gratify desires and fantasies,
Lord have mercy.
When our restlessness leads us to expediency and rationalism,
Christ have mercy
When our restlessness blocks out your still, small voice,
Lord have mercy
You are a hiding place for me:
protecting me amid my troubles;
surrounding me with shouts of deliverance.
I will give you understanding
and I will teach you the path you should follow.
I will give you counsel, with my eye upon you;
you will not be like a horse or a mule,
needing to be under bridle and halter.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Many sufferings come to the unfaithful and the faithful,
but to trust in the LORD
is to experience the embrace of God’s lovingkindness.
So, rejoice in the LORD and exult,
you who have been declared without guilt;
shout with joy all you whose lives are made right.
Hear then Christ’s word of grace: “Your sins are forgiven.”
Thanks be to God!
OFFERING
God of suffering love,
we offer our gifts and our lives
to the way of Jesus.
May we grow together in faith,
as we serve our neighbours
through the company of your Spirit.
Amen.
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Matthew 4:1-11
(a) See the alternative suggestion given for Lent 1 Year C
(b) Click here for some ideas for worship in Lent and Easter gleaned from the pages of “On the Move” (now out of print) which was published by the Joint Board of Christian Education, Melbourne, Australia.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer, usually with connection to one or more of the lections for the day, to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession. Sometimes this prayer also borrows lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)
Source of life and love,
let the light of your Word,
and the warmth of your Spirit
sustain those we name on our lips and in our hearts;
journey with us
in the messy bits as well as the good
and encourage us in the days ahead
in living faithfully as sisters and brothers in Christ;
in the hope that you give …
(The Prayers of the People continue)
Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR LENT 1A |
|
| How firm a foundation, you people of God | TIS 578 |
| O love how deep, how broad, how high! | TIS 194 |
| O Master, let me walk with thee | TIS 601 |
| Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 | |
| All hail the power of Jesus’ name | TIS 224 |
| God who stretched the spangled heavens | TIS 163 |
| God whose farm is all creation | TIS 159 |
| O worship the King all-glorious above | TIS 133 |
| Praise to the Holiest in the heights | TIS 141 |
| Psalm 32 | |
| How blest are those whose great sin | TIS 20 |
| How sweet the name of Jesus sounds | TIS 223 |
| I greet you, my Redeemer sure | TIS 198 |
| I sing the almighty power of God | TIS 119 |
| Jesus, lover of my soul | TIS 211 |
| Rock of Ages, cleft for me | TIS 222 |
| King of glory, King of peace | TIS 201 |
| You are my hiding place | TIS 754 |
| Romans 5:12-19 | |
| And can it be that I should gain an interest | TIS 209 |
| Author of faith, eternal word | TIS 565 |
| By your kingly power, O risen Lord | TIS 386 |
| Father of heaven, whose love profound | TIS 131 |
| How sweet the name of Jesus sounds | TIS 223 |
| O what a gift, what a wonderful gift | TIS 278 |
| Praise to the Holiest in the height | TIS 141 |
| The love of God is greater far | TIS 151 |
| Your coming, Lord, to earth in Bethlehem | TIS 285 |
| Matthew 4:1-11 | |
| O Jesus I have promised | TIS 595 |
| A mighty fortress is our God | TIS 103 |
| Forty days and forty nights | TIS 591 |
| Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us | TIS 580 |
| O love how deep, how broad, how high! | TIS 194 |
| Seek ye first the kingdom of God | TIS 745 |
| When he was baptised in Jordan | TIS 252 |