Here
is an act of confession for Ash Wednesday, followed by an invitation to the
imposition of ashes. It was written by
Amy Loving, and posted on The Worship
Closet.
Litany of Confession (Psalm 51)
The sacrifice acceptable to God
is a broken spirit;
a broken heart – one filled
with regret and remorse –
God will not
despise.
We are a broken people.
Trusting in God’s mending ways,
let us confess our sins before
God and one another:
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast
love;
according to your abundant
mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my
sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before
me.
Against you, you alone, have I
sinned,
and done what is evil in your
sight,
so that you are justified in
your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived
me.
You desire truth in the inward
being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my
secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I
shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter
than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have
crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within
me.
Do not cast me away from your
presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from
me.
Restore to me the joy of your
salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Assurance of Pardon (Psalm 51)
O Lord, open our lips,
and our mouths will declare
your praise.
The Lord creates in us clean
hearts;
God puts new and right spirits within
us.
We are not cast away from the presence of the Holy One,
We are not cast away from the presence of the Holy One,
and the Holy Spirit is not taken from
us.
In Christ, we are restored to the joy of God’s salvation;
In Christ, we are restored to the joy of God’s salvation;
and by God’s grace,
our spirits are remade to follow
God’s will.
Thanks be to God!
Imposition of Ashes
In our Scriptures, we read that
our spiritual ancestors would sometimes cover themselves in ashes as a public
demonstration of their penance – an outward expression of their repentance for
having sinned. Many Christians continue that practice on Ash Wednesday.
Having confessed our sins before God and one another, those who wish may now
come forward and receive the mark of these ashes as a sign of your repentance
and total dependence upon God.
All
are welcome to come forward to receive ashes at this time – either on your
forehead or the back of your hand.
~
written by Amy Loving, and posted on The
Worship Closet: The Place for Creative Worship Ideas. http://worshipcloset.com/baptism-of-the-lord-sunday-year-b-words-for-worship/
