Prayers of the Church, February 14, 2024: Ash Wednesday, B
Joel 2:12-19 (Rend you heart, not your garments)
RCL/ELW: Joel 2:12, 12-17, OR Isaiah 58:1-12 (True fasting is doing justice)
Psalm 51:1-19 (Create in me a clean heart, O God)
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 (Ambassadors for Christ; now is the acceptable time
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 (Prayer, fasting, alms that are acceptable to God)
Opening Hymn (may be omitted if Psalm 51 is used here): I Want Jesus to Walk With Me: WOV #660, ELW #325
OR When in the Hour of Deepest Need, v. 1-4: LBW #303 (Tune may be unfamiliar. Substitute tune
for “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast In Your Word,” LBW #230)
Hymn of the Day: Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive: LBW #307, ELW #605, LSB #843
OR O Sun of Justice: WOV #659 (2nd verse great if you preach on 2 Corinthians; can sing to the Doxology)
Communion 1: Restore in Us, O God: ELW #328
OR O Christ, Thou Lamb of God: LBW #103
Communion 2: Today Your Mercy Calls Us: LBW #304, LSB #915
OR Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling: WOV 734, ELW #608
Closing Hymn: Strengthen for Service, Lord: LBW #218, ELW #497
OR When in the Hour of Deepest Need, v. 5-6: LBW #303
Let us humbly beseech God for his mercy upon the Church, the world, and one another.
A brief silence
Father, thank you for being full of mercy, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Thank you for Jesus, your remedy for our sin and brokenness. Thank you for the Holy Spirit, who stirs up faith, hope, and love in our hearts.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy on your Church. Cleanse it from false teaching, feigned holiness, and fake discipleship. Form it in the likeness of your dear Son. Fill it with your Holy Spirit. Use it to draw all people to yourself.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy on your persecuted servants. Cleanse them from bitterness or thirst for revenge. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son. Fill them with your Holy Spirit. Use them to lead the enemies of Christ to repentance and salvation.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Have mercy on this congregation. Cleanse us from “going through the motions” of worship and service. Form us into the likeness of your dear Son. Fill us with your Holy Spirit. Use us to draw friends and family to the foot of Jesus’ Cross.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy on all who doubt your existence or goodness. Cleanse them from pride or despair. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son. Fill them with your Holy Spirit. Bless them with faith in you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy upon all who are entrusted with power and authority in our country and world. Cleanse them from cruelty, lust for power, and deceit. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son. Fill them with your Holy Spirit. Use them to bring your blessings of peace, justice, and mercy to all people.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy upon all who protect our health, safety, and freedom. Cleanse them from wrong judgment or base motives. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son. Fill them with your Holy Spirit. Use them to do your will in this broken world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Have mercy on all whose lives are shadowed by sin or suffering. Cleanse them from all that keeps them from turning to you, their Strength and their Redeemer. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son. Fill them with your Holy Spirit. Restore them to health, hope, and the company of all who love them.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Most holy and gracious Father, we commend into your mercy our beloved dead. We who are ashes and dust beseech you to be merciful to us as well. Cleanse us from every sin which separates us from you and from one another. Form us into the likeness of your dear Son. Fill us with your Holy Spirit. Use us to help lighten our neighbor’s burdens throughout our earthly pilgrimage. Lead us, with all whom you have redeemed by the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, into your Kingdom, where, untroubled by sin, evil, or death, we may rejoice in your goodness and gaze upon your glory forever.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For these things, and for whatever else is needful, dear Father, we pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.
