Dust to Dust: Ash Wednesday

ASH WEDNESDAY
 

Slowly breathe in and out these prayers, Scriptures, and confessions.
Read these words as if you were worshiping with our community.

If you are able,

read the bold print out loud as you would during a communal confession.

STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. REST.  May the Spirit richly indwell your hearts & minds...


PRAYER of INCEPTION
Almighty and everlasting God,

you hate nothing you have made
and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: create and make
in us new and contrite hearts,

that we, worthily lamenting our
sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy,

perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God,

forever and ever. 

Amen.

Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth:
grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence,

that we may remember that it is only by your
gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus
Christ our Savior. 

Amen.

Read & Reflect: PSALM 51


LITANY of PENITENCE
Most holy and merciful Father:

we confess to you and to one another,
and to the whole communion of saints

in heaven and on earth,
that we have sinned by our own fault

in thought, word and deed;
by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength.
We have not loved our neighbors

as ourselves.
We have not forgiven others,

as we have been forgiven.

[Have mercy on us, Lord]

We have been deaf to your call to serve,

as Christ served us.
We have not been true to

the mind of Christ. 
We have grieved your Holy Spirit.

[Have mercy on us, Lord]

SINS against SELF

We confess to you, Lord,

all our past unfaithfulness: the pride,
hypocrisy and impatience of our lives.

[We confess to you, Lord]

Our self-indulgent appetites and ways,

and our exploitation
of other people,

Our anger at our own frustration

and our envy of those
more fortunate than ourselves,

Our intemperate love of worldly goods

and comforts,
and our dishonesty in daily life and work,

Our negligence in prayer and worship

and our failure
to commend the faith that is in us.


SINS against OUR NEIGHBOR
Accept our repentance, Lord,

for the wrongs we have done:
for our blindness to human need

and suffering and
our indifference to injustice and cruelty,

[Accept our repentance, Lord]

For all false judgments,

for uncharitable thoughts toward
our neighbors and for our prejudice

and contempt toward
those who differ from us.

SINS against CREATION
For our waste and pollution of your creation and our lack of
concern for those who come after us,

Restore us, good Lord,

and let your anger depart from us,

[Favorably hear us,

for your mercy is great.]

Accomplish in us the work

of your salvation,

[That we may show your glory

to the world.]

By the cross and passion

of your Son our Lord,

[Bring us with all your saints

to the joy of his resurrection.]

Read & Reflect: PSALM 103


The peace of God be with you.
     And also with you...