Liturgy & Prayers - Wednesday, 18 February 2026 – Ash Wednesday
Liturgy in One Document
Opening Sentence
Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing. (Joel 2:12,13a NRSV)
OR
Come back to the Lord, your God.
He is kind and full of mercy;
he is patient and keeps his promise;
he is always ready to forgive and not punish. (Joel 2:13b TEV)
OR
In the time of my favour I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour,
now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:2 NIV)
Prayer of the Day (Collect)
Traditional
Almighty and eternal God,
since you hate nothing that you have made,
but forgive the sins of all who repent:
Create in us new and contrite hearts,
that we, who lament our sins
and acknowledge our wretchedness,
may obtain from you perfect forgiveness;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Modernised Traditional
(Let us pray for God’s mercy. [silence])
Lord God, heavenly Father,
you desire to be merciful
and are always more willing to pardon than condemn.
Listen to the prayers of your penitent people,
and in your goodness
set free all who are trapped in sin.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Alternative
(Let us pray for God’s mercy. [silence])
Loving heavenly Father,
you look in mercy on our weakness,
and you forgive all who repent.
Show us our sins,
make us sorry for them,
and create in us new and clean hearts.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Alleluia Verse
Use either the Verse given in the order of service or the following verse.
Return to the Lord, your God, who is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. (Joel 2:13)
OR
For our sake, God made him to be sin who knew no sin,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21 NRSV alt)
Prayer After the Gospel
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving up everything for us.
Make us truly repentant,
and help us to worship God in our hearts.
Amen.
Offering Prayer
Merciful God,
you gave your Son to take our sin.
Lead us to give ourselves and what we have
for your service.
Help us to discipline ourselves,
so that we may show your care
to those in need.
Amen.
Prayer of the Church
Prayer Points
- <p><strong><a href="https://lca.box.com/shared/static/wm4idu3ot5q5dyct12myij8jxbk8rdts.doc">Responsive Prayer</a></strong> for Ash Wednesday (this can be used in place of the Prayer of the Church).</p>
Services with Holy Communion
Preface
It is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
He has taken on himself our sin,
so that we might die to sin
and live to righteousness.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we adore and praise your glorious name:
Communion Invitation
Every time we eat this bread and drink from this cup
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, as you did not spare your own Son,
but gave him up to die on the cross for us all:
Grant that we who have received
his body and blood in the sacrament
may live in him and he in us,
so that, as your children,
we may walk in your ways
and serve you all the days of our life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR use the second prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows:
Lord God, heavenly Father,
you desire to be merciful
and are always more willing to pardon than to condemn.
Listen to the prayers of your penitent people,
who have received your body and blood
in this sacrament,
and in your goodness
set free all who are trapped in sin.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Dismissal
Here is a seasonal blessing for Lent. It may be used before the usual blessing.
(May) Christ our crucified Saviour draw you to himself,
so that you may find in him the assurance of sins forgiven
and the gift of eternal life; . . . (the blessing follows)
In the name of Christ. Amen.
