Ash Wednesday Meditation

Join us in-person Wednesday, February 17th, between 8am-1pm at St Luke’s on 5th - 1150 W. 5th Ave. You can use the audio track (bring headphones!) and the liturgy below.

OPENING PRAYER: 

God,

You are the Maker of all things and judge of all that you have made. From the dust of the earth you have formed us and from the dust of death you will raise us up. By the redemptive power of the cross, create in us clean hearts, and put within us a new spirit -- that we may repent of our sins and lead lives worthy of your calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Silence

Scripture

"Even now," declares the LORD, 

      "return to me with all your heart, 

      with fasting and weeping and 

mourning."

Rend your heart 

       and not your garments. 

       Return to the LORD your God, 

       for he is gracious and 

compassionate, 

 slow to anger and abounding in love, 

  and he relents from sending calamity.

Who knows? He may turn and have pity 

       and leave behind a blessing— 

       grain offerings and drink offerings 

       for the LORD your God.

Excerpts from Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, 

      according to your unfailing love; 

      according to your great compassion 

      blot out my transgressions.

 Wash away all my iniquity 

      and cleanse me from my sin.

 For I know my transgressions, 

      and my sin is always before me.

 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Silence

Let’s pray together.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have failed to do. 

We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have to loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name, Amen.

Silence

Be Thou My Vision 

Verse 1 

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart 

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art 

Thou my best thought, by day or by night 

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. 

Verse 2 

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word 

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord 

Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son 

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one. 

Verse 3 

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise 

Thou mine inheritance now and always 

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

Verse 4 

High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun! 

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all