The Mercy Of God
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VI, Cycle B
Call To Worship
Leader: Rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God.
People: For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.
Collect
Gracious and Patient Lord, we come to you with broken hearts for we know that our days on earth are numbered, and we have been less than faithful in carrying out your wishes. We come, too, with hope for we claim your promise of forgiveness for all those who are truly penitent. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Merciful Lord, if you were to count our sins against us, who could stand before you? We come back to you at this beginning of the Lenten Season truly sorrowful for our misdeeds, knowing that you are always ready to forgive and not to punish. Amen.
Hymns
"Depth Of Mercy"
"There's A Wideness In God's Mercy"
Ash Wednesday
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
Theme: Now Is The Time
Call To Worship
Listen! This is the hour to receive God's favor; today is the day to be saved!
Let God change you from enemies into his friends.
Collect
O God, as we accept your invitation and begin to feel better about ourselves, may we realize that you call and renew us so that we may not only have life but share it with others. Guide us then, so that we may be your people, renewed and renewing, forgiven and forgiving, loved and loving. In Jesus's name. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
O God, you have called us to work together with Christ that through our ministry others may accept your grace. But we confess that we have put obstacles in the way; we have not been willing to pay the price of following Christ's example. Forgive us, Lord, and through your Spirit strengthen us so that no fault may be found with our ministry. Amen.
Hymns
"Just As I Am, Without One Plea"
"Come, Sinners, To The Gospel Feast"
Ash Wednesday
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Theme: Lenten Disciplines
Call To Worship
This is the day we begin our preparation for the celebration of the Resurrection. It is a time to practice the spiritual disciplines of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. Come, let us prepare our hearts for this season of worship.
Collect
Almighty and Everlasting God, create in us a new spirit and a contrite heart that we might more readily serve you by serving others in a quiet and unselfish manner. Teach us to pray to you and not for the ears of those around us. By our fasting may we learn to be concerned for those who are hungry. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Our Father, who art in heaven, we acknowledge that from time to time we have been more concerned with our own wishes and desires, as well as the opinions of those around us, than we have of your will for us. Forgive us, we pray, and grant that we may use this Lenten Season to draw nearer to you that we might better serve and please you. Amen.
Hymns
"Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind"
"Lord, Who Through These Forty Days"
Leader: Rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God.
People: For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.
Collect
Gracious and Patient Lord, we come to you with broken hearts for we know that our days on earth are numbered, and we have been less than faithful in carrying out your wishes. We come, too, with hope for we claim your promise of forgiveness for all those who are truly penitent. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Merciful Lord, if you were to count our sins against us, who could stand before you? We come back to you at this beginning of the Lenten Season truly sorrowful for our misdeeds, knowing that you are always ready to forgive and not to punish. Amen.
Hymns
"Depth Of Mercy"
"There's A Wideness In God's Mercy"
Ash Wednesday
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
Theme: Now Is The Time
Call To Worship
Listen! This is the hour to receive God's favor; today is the day to be saved!
Let God change you from enemies into his friends.
Collect
O God, as we accept your invitation and begin to feel better about ourselves, may we realize that you call and renew us so that we may not only have life but share it with others. Guide us then, so that we may be your people, renewed and renewing, forgiven and forgiving, loved and loving. In Jesus's name. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
O God, you have called us to work together with Christ that through our ministry others may accept your grace. But we confess that we have put obstacles in the way; we have not been willing to pay the price of following Christ's example. Forgive us, Lord, and through your Spirit strengthen us so that no fault may be found with our ministry. Amen.
Hymns
"Just As I Am, Without One Plea"
"Come, Sinners, To The Gospel Feast"
Ash Wednesday
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Theme: Lenten Disciplines
Call To Worship
This is the day we begin our preparation for the celebration of the Resurrection. It is a time to practice the spiritual disciplines of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. Come, let us prepare our hearts for this season of worship.
Collect
Almighty and Everlasting God, create in us a new spirit and a contrite heart that we might more readily serve you by serving others in a quiet and unselfish manner. Teach us to pray to you and not for the ears of those around us. By our fasting may we learn to be concerned for those who are hungry. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Our Father, who art in heaven, we acknowledge that from time to time we have been more concerned with our own wishes and desires, as well as the opinions of those around us, than we have of your will for us. Forgive us, we pray, and grant that we may use this Lenten Season to draw nearer to you that we might better serve and please you. Amen.
Hymns
"Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind"
"Lord, Who Through These Forty Days"
