18B*
A Call to Worship
Ash Wednesday Year B 2012
Psalm 51: 1-17

Holy God, you are the God of all peoples, of all
ages, and also the God of every individual person.
As an individual and a member of a community
I come, seeking your grace and forgiving mercy.

Compassionate God, you are the God of all peoples,
and also the God of every sin-filled individual person.
As an individual and a member of a community I come,
seeking healing and renewal that your forgiveness brings.

Forgiving God, you are the God of all peoples, and also
the God of every contrite and penitent individual person.
As an individual and a member of a community I come,
seeking a fresh start in unity with God, and with others. Amen.

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Prayers of Confession
Ash Wednesday Year B 2012
Psalm 51: 1-17

We come together O God, as people who know their own
sinfulness – the sinfulness of an individual, and also the
sin that is active within a group of people; who together,
have sinned against God, and against each other in word
and deed; in thought and action, and in implied untruths.
Merciful God, create in each of us an honest and caring tongue.

We come together O God, as people who know that although
we at times have been victimised and badly hurt, and that
that pain lingers for a long time; individually and collectively,
we too have taken advantage of confused, vulnerable or
fragile people who are so easily open to an abuse of power.
Merciful God, create in each of us a caring and forgiving heart.

We come together O God, as people who are often badly
damaged in our relationships through the influence of people
who manipulate us and prey on our vulnerability. We confess
that we too, are also guilty of seeking to get our own way by
influencing susceptible people with half-truths or selfish advice.
Merciful God, create in each of us a pure and uncluttered mind.

We come together O God as people who are part of a world
community, and we accept that we have responsibilities towards
others. Help us to be open to the needs of others, and willing
to walk beside people when they are fragile and in need of help.
Merciful God, create in each of us hands and feet that serve others.

We come together O God, as people who know God’s love and
mercy; and who know that when we have confessed to God the
reality of our selfish and sin-centred lives, God has forgiven us.
Merciful God, create in each of us a blessed and forgiven soul. Amen.

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A Personal Meditation
Ash Wednesday Year B 2012
Psalm 51: 1-17

Creating Spirit, there are so many parts of me that make up
the reality of “me” – an elderly woman who struggles with health
issues. There is the outside layer, the person that others see,
and think that they know so well. They see me as the person who
needs help to move around, and so they graciously assist me—
the “me” that needs loving forgiveness and renewal every day.



Spirit of life and wholeness, then there is the next layer of “me”,
the one that medical practitioners treat with pills and potions;
the person who has strange things happening within her body
that leaves unanswered questions, which nevertheless, keeps
functioning through the skills and understanding of physicians—
the “me” that needs loving forgiveness and renewal every day.



Spirit of Truth and Wisdom, the next layer of “me” is my mind, that
great gift of creation that drives all my thoughts and actions, my
mixed of feelings; that power that urges me to delve into the depths
of human understanding as I seek the truth about life; about the world’s
people and their needs; and above all, about my Creator and Lord—
the “me” that needs loving forgiveness and renewal every day.



Holy and love-engendering Spirit, the final layer is where the real
“me” lives, my soul, my being, me! The “me” that needs to reach out
to others to be fulfilled; the “me” that always needs to be forgiven,
renewed and blessed; the “me” that yearns for a closer and deeper
relationship with my loved ones, and above all, with my Holy God—
the “me” that needs loving forgiveness and renewal every day.

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Acknowledgements:
Unless stated otherwise, all Bible readings and extracts used in these weekly Prayers and Meditations are from
‘The New Revised Standard Version’ Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council
of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

*The additional weekly numbering is from the Revised COCU Indexing Scheme
COCU = ('Consultation on Church Union'); as it offers an easy sequential numbering
for the Revised Common Lectionary for the Church Calendar.

If any part of these Prayers and/or Meditations is used in shared worship, please provide
the following acknowledgement:
© 2012 Joan Stott – ‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year B. Used with permission.

jstott@netspace.net.au

Download/view a pdf file of this document here: ash wedb_2012.pdf

© 2012 Joan Stott - " The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year B