From: Erin Cox-Holmes This has a version of Psalm 51 which I particularly like. Hymn numbers from presbyterian hymnal (THAT BLUE BOOK to our congregations PRELUDE THE CALL TO WORSHIP Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God's holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all the benefits of the Lord, Who forgives all your offenses and heals your infirmities; who redeems your life from destruction and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness; Who satisfies you with good things, and your youth is renewed like an eagle's. The Lord is full of compassion, slow to anger, rich in love; The Lord has not dealt with us as our sins deserve. For the Lord knows what we are made of; God remembers that we are dust. * HYMN #85 "What Wondrous Love is This?" PRAYER OF THE DAY Gracious God, you despise nothing you have made and you forgive the sins of us all. Turn us now from shame and self-deception, that truly repenting of our sins, and acknowledging our brokenness, we may receive from you, the God of all mercy, your forgiveness and pardon and turn from our destructive ways; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Redeemer,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. ANTHEM OLD TESTAMENT READING 1 Kings 19:1-10 MEDITATION Rev. Cox-Holmes * HYMN #501 "Bread of Heaven" THE INVITATION TO THE JOURNEY OF LENT PSALM 51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness; * in your great compassion blot out my offenses. Wash me through and through from my wickedness *and cleanse me from my sin. For my faults are ever before me, *and my sins haunt me day and night. Against you and you only have I sinned *and done that which is evil in your sight. Your judgment is what I deserve *any sentence you impose would be supremely fair. I have been out of step with you for a long time, *in the wrong since before I was born. For behold, you desire truth in my inward being, *therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me from deceptive living until I come clean; *wash me, until I am whiter than snow. Infuse me with joy and gladness, *Let these bones which you have crushed dance for joy. Hide your face from my sins *and blot out all my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God, *and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence *and take not your holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation *and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I shall teach rebels your ways, *So the lost may find their way home. Deliver me from death, O God, *and my tongue shall sing of your life-giving ways, O God of my salvation. Open my lips, O Lord, *and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice, *but you take no delight in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a shattered spirit; *this broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. TIME FOR SILENT REFLECTION CALL TO CONFESSION Jesus said: Ask and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Friends in Christ, God knows our needs before we ask, and in our asking prepares us to receive the gift of grace. Let us open our lives to God's healing presence, forsaking all that separates us from God and neighbor. Let us be mindful not only of personal evil but also of our communal sins of family, class, race, and nation. Let us confess to God whatever has wounded us or brought injury to others, that we may receive mercy and become for each other ministers of God's grace. CONFESSION OF SIN Holy and merciful God, We confess to you and to one another, that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We have turned from those in need, refusing to bear their burdens. We have ignored the pain of the world, and passed by the hungry, the poor, the oppressed. We have grieved your Holy Spirit. You alone, O God, know how often we have wandered from your ways, wasted your gifts, and forgotten your love. We wholeheartedly repent of the evil we have done and the evil done on our behalf. In your mercy forgive what we have been. Help us to amend what we are. Shape and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your Holy Name. Amen. THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! THE PASSING OF THE PEACE * REJOICING IN FORGIVENESS "Hear the Good News of Salvation" #355 THE ACCEPTANCE OF ASHES THE CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION The Invitation to the Table The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving Hymnal, p. 13 The Communion of the People Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world. Have mercy upon us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, Have mercy upon us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, Grant us your peace. The Prayer After Communion Christ Jesus, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross so that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we may reach forth our hands in love. May we bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; Give us grace to befriend the lost, to serve the poor, to reconcile our enemies, and to love our neighbors so we may honor your name. Amen. * CLOSING HYMN #536 "Lord, Make Us More Holy"