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Lectionary Guide

February 22, 2023

Ash Wednesday

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Psalm 51:1-17
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

lectionary:
Season of lent, Year a

Excursus on Ash Wednesday


The Meaning of Ashes

Ashes represent many things. The heaped up ashes in a hearth may indicate the benefit of warmth on a cold winter’s night. The charred remains of a personal property and its smoky ash from human or natural causes, indicates…

Liturgical Resources

Call to Worship

  • Adapted from Joel 2:12-13
    View

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

    People: and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God,

    Leader: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding…

    Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

    Adapted for liturgical use.

    Bible Translation: ESV English Standard Version Crossway Publishing

    Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

Prayer of Confession

  • View

    God of mercy, you are full of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in mercy, and always ready to forgive. Grant us grace to repent of our sins and to cling to Christ, that in every way we may prove to be your loving children, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you…

    Dustin Ray

Assurance of Pardon

  • View

    “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over…

    Bible Translation: ESV English Standard Version Crossway Publishing

    Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

Benediction

  • View

    Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

    Inclusive Version

    Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of…

    Adapted with minor modifications for liturgical use.

    Bible Translation: WEB World English Bible eBible.org

    Scripture quotations marked (WEB) are from the World English Bible. The World English Bible is in the public domain.

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