A PRAYER FOR ASH WEDNESDAY OT

JOEL 2

12Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. 14Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God

Our hearts weep for the sins of the people

We have turned from the ways of God

and followed the paths of deceit

We have replace our word as our bond

with manipulation of fact and feeling

We bear false witness against neighbor and friend

to gain an advantage or score a point

Relent your anger, O God, and extend

to us your blessing

Our hearts weep for the sins of the people

We have turned from the light of your glory

and walk in the darkness of greed

We busy ourselves by estimating our portfolios

and neglect to count our blessings

We work and scheme and gamble for riches

and reap the poverty of our prayers and devotion

Relent your anger, O God, and extend

to us your blessing

Our hearts weep for the sins of the people

We have turned from the things that make for peace

and pursued the methodology of war

We abandon our plowshares and pruning hooks

and grab our swords and shields

We conquer and ravage and subdue

and fail to understand and reconcile and forgive

 Relent your anger, O God, and extend

to us your blessing

Our hearts weep for the sins of the people

We hide in our mansions of fear and doubt

and avoid the streets and shadows

We pass by victims in the ditches and doorsteps

and hurry to the party or feast

We deflect opportunities for giving and serving

and drop our pittance in the offering plate

Relent your anger, O God, and extend

to us your blessing

Forgive us

Redeem us

Restore us

Amen