Service for Ash Wednesday -- March 8, 2000
Welcome, friends. In order to follow this service, consider all words in bold type to be spoken by the pastor of the St. Thomas Community Church, the Reverend J. Wright. All words in italic type should be spoken aloud by you.
The Peace
Peace to you, friends, and blessings in the name of Christ our Lord.
And also with your spirit.
Collect
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen
Let us all pray with the words of King David:
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Fill me with joy and gladness; let the bones which thou hast broken rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners will return to thee.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of thy deliverance.
O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
For thou hast no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, thou wouldst not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Let us pray:
Our Father, who is in heaven, holy is Your name.
Your kingdom comes.
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
O Lord, save Your servants.
That put their trust in You.
Send unto them help from above
And evermore mightily defend them.
Help us, O God our Saviour.
And for the glory of Your Name deliver us; be merciful to us sinners, for Your Name's sake.
O Lord, hear our prayer.
And let our cry come unto You.
Let us pray:
O Lord, we beseech You, mercifully hear our prayer, and spare all those who confess their sins unto You; that they, whose consciences by sin are accused, by Your merciful pardon may be absolved; though Christ our Lord. Amen.
O most mighty God and merciful Father, who has compassion upon all men, and who wishes not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his sin, and be saved; Mercifully forgive us our trespasses; receive and comfort us, who are grieved and wearied with the burden of our sins. Your property is always to have mercy, for You only can forgive sins. Spare us therefore, good Lord, spare Your people, whom You have redeemed; enter not into judgment with Your servants; but turn Your anger from us, who meekly acknowledge our transgressions, and truly repent us of our faults, and so make haste to help us in this world, that we may ever live with You in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Turn us, O good Lord, and so shall we be turned.
Turn us, O good Lord, and so shall we be turned.
Be favourable, O Lord, to Your people, who turn to You in weeping, fasting, and prayer.
Turn us, O good Lord.... (repeat the phrase above).
For You are a merciful God, full of compassion, long-suffering, and of great pity. You spare us when we deserve punishment, and in Your wrath think upon mercy.
Turn us, O good Lord...
Spare Your people, good Lord, and let not Your people come into confusion. Hear us, O Lord, for Your mercy is great.
Turn us, O good Lord...
This we ask through the merits and mediation of Your blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
O God, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive, receive our humble petitions, and though we be tied and bound with the chain of our sins, let Your great mercy loose us. For the honour of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make His face shine upon us, and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up His face upon us, and give us peace, both now and for evermore. Amen.
Back to the Main Page