Lectionary Readings
Joel 2:1–2, 12–17
The day of the Lord is coming; return to God with all your heart.
or Isaiah 58:1–12
The fast God chooses: do justice, release captives, help the poor.
Psalm 51:1–17
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new spirit within me.
2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10
Be reconciled to God in Christ; now is the day of salvation!
Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21
Don’t flaunt your fasting and prayer; store up treasure in heaven.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
We come burdened by regrets,
trembling in our mourning.
We know that the Lord is gracious and merciful,
and we trust that God will lift our burdens.
As one people, with all our differences,
we give ourselves to God,
seeking healing and redemption.
In honesty and repentance,
we worship the Lord
and bless God’s holy name.
Prayer of the Day
God of wisdom and mercy,
we turn to you aware of our need for you.
In a season of wandering,
we pray that you will guide us along right paths:
paths of curiosity when we are disillusioned,
paths of hope when we despair,
paths of open doors when we are stuck,
and paths of transformation
when we are corrupted.
Wipe the stain of shame from our brows
and mark us instead
with the sign of your holy presence,
so that we may travel with you
in renewed joy and courage,
living as your people
and acting with your wisdom and mercy,
in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the mercy you so freely offer us
through the grace of our baptism—
safe passage through the sea,
justice rolling down like water,
deliverance from sin and death forever.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
teach us to love and serve you faithfully
and reconcile us to you and to one another
as members of one, living body;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
Now is the time.
Now is the day of salvation.
Now is the beginning of a season of deep breaths,
deep reflection, and deep reckoning.
We must not accept God’s grace in vain.
Now is the time for confession.
We know the ways we have sinned against you.
We know the ways we have done evil.
We know the ways we are guilty.
We deserve your judgment, and yet we plead:
do not cast us away from your presence.
Do not take your Holy Spirit from us.
Create in us clean hearts.
Hide your face from our sins
and blot out the evil we have done.
Let us hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Even now the Lord says,
Return to me with all your heart.
God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger,
abounding in steadfast love.
Thanks be to God for this unimaginable grace.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Merciful God,
your Word is our way of truth and life.
Create in us hearts that are clean
and put your Holy Spirit within us,
so that we may receive your grace
and declare your praise forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
Psalm 51:15
After the readings:
We proclaim Christ crucified—
the wisdom and power of God.
Thanks be to God.
1 Corinthians 1:23–25
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
we bend our knees and lift up our hearts,
giving glory to God forever. Amen.
Philippians 2:9–11
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
The reconciling act of God in Jesus Christ
exposes the evil in people
as sin in the sight of God.
In sin, people claim mastery of their own lives,
turn against God and each other,
and become exploiters
and despoilers of the world.
They lose their humanity in futile striving
and are left in rebellion, despair, and isolation.
But God’s love never changes.
Against all who oppose the divine will,
God expresses love in wrath.
In the same love, God bore judgment
and shameful death in Jesus Christ,
to bring all people to repentance and new life.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.12, 9.14
Prayers of Intercession
In Christ Jesus, we have a great high priest
who knows our weakness and suffering;
therefore, with boldness, let us seek God’s grace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for the church . . .
Make us messengers of your reconciling love—
faithful in suffering, hardship, and danger—
always proclaiming the joy of life in Christ.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for the earth . . .
Where clouds of poison spread gloom
and the land trembles at human violence,
blow the trumpet! Sound the alarm.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for all nations . . .
Break the yoke of oppression; put an end
to the pointing of fingers and speaking of evil,
so that all peoples may live in dignity and peace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for this community . . .
Rebuild the ruins of our cities and towns;
restore our streets as safe places to live,
so that generations to come may praise you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for loved ones . . .
Spring up quickly, with your healing power,
to satisfy the needs of those who suffer
and clothe the weak with your compassion.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
To you, O God, we entrust these prayers,
knowing that you alone can provide
grace to help in our time of need;
in the name of our great high priest
who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Savior. Amen.
Hebrews 4:14–16
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
Jesus says: Where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Matthew 6:21
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
God of grace,
you have gifted us with life in Christ.
Today we bring the gifts of our work
and the gifts of our hearts.
May all that we bring and all that we are
be your means of grace in the world,
that all people may encounter your good news. Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The fast that you desire is righteousness and justice, compassion and peace:
to feed the hungry, help the poor, welcome the stranger, and set captives free.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Jesus teaches sincerity of faith, and purity of heart in prayer and action—
not to make a spectacle of worship or charity, but to seek the inner gifts of grace;
not to store up treasures on earth, but to trust the heavenly treasure of your love.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Keep us faithful through hardship and suffering, hunger and sleepless nights.
Grant us purity, patience, kindness, holiness, truthful speech, and genuine love,
so that we may be reconciled to you through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
Thank you, gracious God,
for giving us bread for the journey
of these forty days.
As we travel on through the wilderness,
help us to share your grace with others
and draw us ever closer to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
May the steadfast love of God,
the abundant grace of Jesus Christ,
and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit
be with you this day and always. Amen.
Psalm 51:1, 11
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus:
If any wish to be my disciples
let them take up the cross
and follow me. Amen.
Mark 8:34
“The Pharisee and the Publican”
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- As the Wind Song (G) WAIRUA TAPU GTG 292
- O Come unto the Lord (OE) KOREA GTG 416
- Return to the Lord Your God (O) RETURN TO THE LORD With One Voice 615
- Remember That You Are Dust (O) CROSS OF ASHES ACS 919
WORD
- Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive (G) DETROIT GTG 444
- Be Thou My Vision (G) SLANE GTG 450
- When the Poor Ones (O) EL CAMINO GTG 762
- Return to God (O) RETURN TO GOD ACS 921
EUCHARIST
- Just as I Am (E) WOODWORTH GTG 442
- Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God (OG) SARADAY GTG 423
- There Is a Place of Quiet Rest (G) MC AFEE GTG 824
- Sign Us with Ashes (O) PHOENIX GTG 433
SENDING
- There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (OE) IN BABILONE GTG 435
- O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee (OG) MARYTON GTG 738
- Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples (O) KINGSFOLD GTG 757
- Abide, O Dearest Jesus (EG) CHRISTUS, DER IST MEIN LEBEN ELW 539
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 51:1–17
Metrical
- Create in Me a Clean Heart [CREATE IN ME]; GTG 422
- Jesus Knows the Inmost Heart [LOE DE ÍSÁ]; GTG 427
- God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us [O QUANTA QUALIA]; GTG 436
- Be Merciful, Be Merciful, O God [GENEVAN 51]; PAS 51B
Responsorial
- The Sacrifice You Accept, O God; PAS 51G
- Be Merciful, O, Lord, for We Have Sinned; PRCL 44
Organ Music
- “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth,” Journey to the Cross: Hymn Preludes for Lent and Holy Week, James Biery, CON (ME)
- “Near the Cross: Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross,” Augsburg Organ Library: Lent II, Robert J. Powell, AF (M)
- “Santo Cordero: Lamb of God Most Holy,” Augsburg Organ Library: Lent II, Marilyn Biery, AF (M)
- “The Glory of These Forty Days,” Light on Your Feet, Vol. 3, Wayne L. Wold, AF (E)
Piano Music
- “Chorale,” The Anne Landa Preludes, Carl Vine, Faber Music (M)
- “Serenata Andaluza,” Manuel de Falla, IMSLP.org (MA)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “If with All Your Heart,” Duane Blakley, HIN, SA(T)B, pno or hp or gtr (E)
- “Create in Me a Clean Heart,” Mark Burrows, ABP, SATB, pno (E)
- “What Wondrous Love,” Laura Farnell, CGA, SATB, pno (E)
- “Create in Me,” Terre Johnson, MSM, SATB, pno (M)
- “Out of the Deep,” Requiem, John Rutter, OUP, SATB, org, vc (M)
- “What Wondrous Love Is This,” Robert Scholz, MSM, SATB div, acap (MA)
- “Wash Me Thoroughly,” Samuel Sebastian Wesley, OUP, SATB, org (A)
- “Miserere me, Deus,” Gregorio Allegri, IMSLP.org, SSATB, acap (A)
Art
- The Pharisee and the Publican, JESUS MAFA, 1973 (VDL)
- Ash, Mike Moyers, 2016 (VDL)
- Ash Wednesday, Carl Spitzweg, 1855 (VDL)
- Man Praying to the Holy Spirit, Guillaume Vrelant, 1460–69 (VDL)
- Aschenblume, Anselm Kiefer, 1983–97 (VCS)
