Ash Wednesday

<p>Today marks the beginning of the season of Lent as we journey towards Easter.</p>

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<p><strong>Hymn: </strong>Come, let us to the Lord (John Morrison, 1781)</p>

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<p><strong>Bible passages:</strong> Psalm 90:1-2, 10; 1 Peter 1:24-25; Joel 2:12-13; Hosea 6:1-3</p>

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<p><strong>Prayer: </strong>(original)</p>

<p>Eternal God, righteous and holy, gracious and merciful,</p>

<p>We come to you humbly with repentant hearts.</p>

<p>May this season of Lent be one of inward renewal.</p>

<p>Search us, O God.</p>

<p>Teach us our mortality and remember our feeble frames.</p>

<p>Forgive us our sins and wash us clean.</p>

<p>Heal our wounds and bind us up.</p>

<p>Break the hold that the idols have over us and help us to worship you.</p>

<p>Free us from worldly passions, and increase our desire for Christ.</p>

<p>Lead us by your Holy Spirit into the transforming power of your grace, that we may draw near to you through your Son Jesus, the one who suffered in our place, died and was raised again.</p>

<p>We ask in his name,</p>

<p>Amen.</p>

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<p>Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version ® NIV ®</p>

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