Adapted from Joel 12:12-14 (NIV)

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. (NIV)

Adapted from Psalm 51 (ESV)

Leader: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions.
People: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

Leader: For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.
People: Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words, and blameless in your judgment.

Leader: Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
People: Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Leader: Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
People: Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Leader: Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
People: Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

(ESV, adapted for liturgical use)

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 (Gn 3:19 (WEB), Mt 24:36 (NIV), adapted for liturgical use)

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.” 

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. (Rom 6:23, WEB)