Adapted from Joel 12:12-14

Leader: Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.

People: Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord Your God,

Leader: for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

People: Come, Let us Worship the Lord.

Stuart Strachan Jr.

Adapted from Psalm 51

Leader: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out our transgressions.

People: Wash away all our transgressions, and our sin is always before us.

Leader: Against you, you only, have we sinned and done what is evil in your sight;

People: Cleanse us with hyssop, and we will be clean, wash us, and we will be whiter than snow.

Leader: Let us hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

People: Create in us a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us.

Leader: Do not cast us from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us.

People: Restore unto us the joy of your salvation and grant us a willing spirit, to sustain us.

Stuart Strachan Jr.

Adapted from Genesis 3:19, Matthew 24:36

 From dust you have come, 

And to dust you shall return. 

But about that day or hour 

No one knows. 

Not even the angels in heaven, 

Nor the Son, but only the Father. 

Lord of all, we submit ourselves to your merciful care this day. 

Submitted by Austin D. Hill

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John.

On this day we come from many different suburbs -to remember his story, to offer our worship and to give witness to our faith.

Gather us in, O God. Leaving the security of home, family and daily work

Jesus began a brave new journey; may we be willing to embrace new paths and new ways. Gather us in, and invite us to venture out, O God.

Knowing that Jesus would have begun this journey with human fears and apprehensions, we find the freedom to admit that we are not always courageous.

Gather us in and give us courage, O God.

Jesus remained open to the Spirit all the way, so as we gather to hear the familiar stories of Lent and Easter, may we be willing to hear them address us in new ways,

Gather us in and grant to us receptive hearts and minds, O God.

Ann Siddall, Stillpoint Spirituaity Centre

Leader: As we enter into this season of Lent, we remember the words of your servant Paul, who said, “the wages of sin are death.” (Rom.6:23)

People: Lord have mercy.

Leader: Even though we have been bought with the blood of Christ, we often turn away from you and towards our own wicked desires.

People: Lord have mercy.

Leader: As we prepare to receive ashes this day, remind us that we only have one life to live. Remind us of our baptism, where we turned from death to life.

People: Keep us in your faithful arms until you return to judge the living and the dead.

Leader: Come, Let us worship the Lord.

Stuart Strachan Jr.