18B – Ash Wednesday

17B - Transfiguration19B - Lent 1B
 
PSALM 51:1-12
Be gracious to me, O God, according to your lovingkindness;
according to your abundant compassion blot out my rebellious acts.
Like a cloudburst, wash my wrongdoing from me and scour my sins from me;
for I am only too aware of my rebellion, and my sin is always in front of me.
I have sinned against you – you alone,
and done what is displeasing in your eyes
and so you have a just case when you speak; blameless when you judge.
The truth is, I was born among waywardness,
and my mother conceived me in a sinful society;
indeed, you desired faithfulness in the womb,
and in being kept hidden you caused me to know wisdom
Unsin me with hyssop and I shall be clean;
wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my wrongdoing.
Create for me a clean heart, O God,
and re-create a generous spirit within me.
Do not throw me aside from your presence;
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your favour;
and let a willing spirit sustain me.

CONFESSION (Psalm 51:1-4a,9-12)
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my acts of rebellion.
Wash away the guilt of my waywardness,
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I am aware of my rebellious acts,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you alone, Lord God, have I sinned,
and before your eyes I have done what is evil.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all the guilt of my wayward acts.
Create for me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit in me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and let a willing spirit empower me. Amen

For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2000.


A CREATIVE MOMENT 
Click here for some ideas for worship in Lent and Easter gleaned from the pages of “On the Move” (now out of print) originally published by the Joint Board of Christian Education, Melbourne, Australia.


Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate

HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR ASH WEDNESDAY
All go to God when they are sorely placed TIS 240
Dear Shepherd of your people, hear TIS 444
Father all-loving and ruling in majesty TIS 160
Father of mercy, God of consolation TIS 472
Father of heaven, whose love profound TIS 131
God be in my head TIS 549
Hail to the Lord’s annointed TIS 275
Lord Jesus, think on me TIS 546
The church’s one foundation TIS 457
Joel 2
Forty days and forty nights TIS 591
May this Lenten discipline TIS 463
Isaiah 58
When he comes back TIS 280
Great God, your Spirit, like the wind TIS 416
God of freedom, God of justice TIS 657
2 Corinthians 6
Lord God, the Spirit blest TIS 404
There’s a spirit in the air TIS 414
Make me a channel of your peace TIS 607
Matthew 6
Father in heaven, grant to your children TIS 465
O God of Bethel, by whose hand TIS 564
O day of God, draw near TIS 616
The great love of God TIS 164

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