Prayers of the People Based on Psalm 51:10 (Pr. 19 C)

Celebrant:
Let us implore the Lord our God praying,
“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.”

Leader:
We pray for leaders of the Church.
May they serve as examples
to those who would come to believe in Christ for eternal life.
May the Church place its hope in you, O God,
and not in human wisdom.

Silence 

People:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me. 

Leader:
We pray for the leaders of the nations.
May they show mercy and advocate for the rights of the people.
May they, like Moses, seek the greater good rather than their own interests.

Silence

People:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.


Leader:
We thank you for all you created.
We thank you that your Son Jesus Christ rejoiced in your creation—
telling stories about sheep, praying in the wilderness and walking on the sea.
May we also appreciate the works of your hands.

Silence

People:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.


Leader:
We pray for the people in our lives.
May we learn to love the stiff-necked, the sinners
and all those in great need of your mercy.
Make us instruments of your peace.

(Allow the congregation to add their petitions and thanksgivings,
followed by Silence.)

People:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.


Leader:
We pray for the sick, the anxious and the sorrowful.
Make them hear of joy and gladness,
that broken bodies and broken spirits may rejoice.

Silence

People:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.


Leader:
We trust to your mercy, O God, all who have died.
May they rest eternally in your peace.
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, our God,
be honor and glory forever and ever.

Silence

People:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.

--Fr. Jeremiah Williamson, Episcopal priest, and posted on Praying the Scriptures. http://jeremiahwilliamson.blogspot.ca/

Ash Wednesday Call to Worship

God of salvation’s joy,
we gather to celebrate and revere you.
We come, realising that we are broken.
Forgive and re-create us.

God of unfailing love,
we gather to worship and honour you.
We come, and because of your compassion,
forgive and renew us.

God of new beginnings,
we gather to praise and thank you.
We come, and through your grace and mercy,
forgive and restore us,
so that with clean hearts we may truly worship you.
Amen.

--Joan Stott, Australian, based on Psalm 51:1-17, from her blog The Timeless Psalms.

Prayer on Psalm 51

(based on Psalm 51)

“But you desire honesty from the heart,

so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.”

Psalm 51:6 

Not just in my heart
but in the secret space
it holds.

In the heart of my heart.
In the place where I am myself.
In the space that I protect the most
and share the least.

In the hidden chamber
that I sometimes close off
even from myself.

In the realm
where you wait
and watch,
where you see each thing
that lies in shadow,
where you know the names
of all that makes its home
in me.

Here
in my secret heart:
here
teach me to move
with your wisdom,
to open the doors
that will draw me deeper still,
to live in the truth
that you desire;
here
let me open
the windows wide
so that those who pass by
will see you
looking out.

--Jan L. Richardson (1947- ), American Methodist poet, teacher, and artist, and posted on The Painted Prayerbook. 

Blessing (Psalm 51)

(inspired by Psalm 51)

May God create in you a clean heart,
a transformed heart,
a heart that knows and seeks and loves
the justice and mercy of the Lord.

May you accept the gift of salvation –
not your personal possession to be coveted,
but His work, accomplished in the destruction of Sin
on the cross of Jesus Christ.

And may you humble yourself before the Lord,
coming before Him with a broken spirit,
a contrite heart
receiving from His hand
great compassion and unfailing love.

--posted on Jeff’s Blog.